Wonder Woman: The Forgotten

[lawrenceliberty]

Wonder Woman: The Forgotten
By libbylawrence

Wonder Woman and her allies try to solve a mythological mystery!

1

Queen Hippolyta of Paradise Island raised her golden sword as she walked down a narrow path through a thick wooden area. Her many years as ruler of the fabled Amazons had not dulled her battle instincts and she carried herself with a combination of regal beauty and the grace of a proven warrior. She also had a keen eye for detail and she knew her land as only one who had ruled the area for centuries could do so. She frowned as she noticed the dying vegetation. The trees were not healthy and in truth of late little of the once lovely isle retained either vitality or a decorative nature.

The beautiful blonde wore her golden battle armor over a brief tunic. She carried a shield and wore sandals and moved with the silent grace of a hunter. She knew that this type of caution was necessary of late since several of her Amazon subjects had encountered dangerous predators in the vicinity. She was concerned because while their island home had always had elements of magic, as was natural for the chosen home of a sisterhood descended from the legendary Olympians themselves, of late other more sinister forces seemed to be at large amongst the natural wildlife of the island.

“Three of my subjects barely escaped from some shadowy menace that stalked them in these woods and yet none of them could agree upon the nature of their foe! I came here alone to end this threat without endangering my sisters since in truth I am the isle’s finest warrior and I am responsible for the safety of all my subjects,” she thought.

“Lovely Hippolyta, you are even more radiant of face and figure than the poets claimed! You should not be here all alone! What would your subjects say if some accident befell their beloved ruler?” said a mocking voice as a tall woman with pale blonde hair emerged from the forest.

Queen Hippolyta had heard her approach seconds before the rather hardy looking woman appeared and yet she was caught off-guard not by her arrival but by her words!

“Who are you? Why do you refer to my subjects in such a pointed way? Clearly, you are not one of them! While those in need of aid are welcome, the uninvited enter here at their own peril!” she said.

The taller woman laughed again and then replied in a weirdly guttural growl.

“ I was old before your frail sisterhood walked the sandy shores of Themyscira! I am no newcomer. You and are in fact but an infant to be dandled or chastised at my whim!”

The mocking woman began to change shape and her cold but lovely features twisted and distorted until
her altered body loomed up in front of the Amazon Queen in the form of a huge brown bear with shaggy fur and large teeth!

“Kallisto! You’re the ancient and cursed Kallisto!” said Hippolyta as she whirled around and rolled backward in a nimble flip that enabled her to avoid the monster’s raking claws and swing out with her own weapon!

She sliced through the creature’s left leg and dodged as it brought both paws down where she had been crouched.

She kicked out and connected with the monster’s wounded leg. The beast reeled to one side and regained its balance.

Hippolyta moved closer in a determined effort to take advantage of the monster’s wound.

“No wonder no one could identify the beast. She looked as normal as any of us in her original form! She was probably mistaken for another Amazon in the dankness of the forest!” she thought.

Kallisto charged forward and to Hippolyta’s surprise the injured beast managed to match her own agility!

The blonde Warrior Queen fell beneath her larger foe and grunted in pain as the beast struck her chest and threatened to crush her.

She allowed herself to be lifted upward like a child’s plaything and then she struck back!

She braced both feet against her foe’s shaggy chest and then she shoved her sword through the monster!

After a final roar of pain, Kallisto collapsed and with a shudder returned to her human form!

Hippolyta held her own side as she studied the dead woman’s still form.

“She broke my ribs or badly bruised them but then how could I expect any less from a creature right out of legend! What could have brought such a monster from the dust of the ancient past to our homeland? For that matter, what curse is ravaging our crops and the natural vegetation of this island paradise? In lore, a land’s health was tied to that of its ruler? Is this plague a sign that my own death is near? If so, I will face it as befits a Daughter of Olympus!” she thought.

2

Later, as Queen Hippolyta made her way between the ornate columns that lined the arbor behind the Palace Royal, she sighed at the sight of the wilted flowers that were once so splendid in color and fragrance. Her ribs had been treated she now wore a long flowing gown with matching heels. A golden tiara rested upon her elaborately coiffed blonde curls and she looked every inch the heir of goddesses that she was! She was accompanied by two other impressive figures. The first was her daughter the Princess Nubia, the second Wonder Woman. By her side flew her beloved J’Onn J’Onzz the Martian Manhunter.

“You see, when we first noticed the decay and saw how the crops were yielding less than the norm, Chief Scientist Paula and Dr. Althea conducted some tests and found that the problem was not a natural one. They agreed that the blight came from supernatural sources not scientific ones. I consulted Penelope at the Temple of Apollo since she has always been our most intuitive sister! The result was disturbing to say the least. Perhaps, J’onn could mentally unite us and allow you both to experience exactly what I saw!” she said.
Nubia nodded readily. Although she had not been raised on the island due to the fact that Mars the god of War had abducted her moments after her birth, Nubia loved her mother and her Amazon sisters dearly and she felt as if she owed her very sense of self and freedom from enslavement by Mars to Diana the original Wonder Woman who had been magically turned into an infant after a cosmic Crisis.

Nubia was a true champion and she would do anything she could to help someone in need, especially when the one imperiled was a loved one! She was proud that Queen Hippolyta had so readily accepted her union with the heroic Martian Manhunter. She knew in the past, the regal ruler had had doubts about Diana’s own love for Steve Trevor. Clearly, she had no such qualms where the scholarly yet sensitive alien hero was concerned.

J’onn was equally impressed with Queen Hippolyta and her Amazon subjects. As a man with a passion for science and a talent for detection, he was intrigued by the magical nature of his beloved’s people. Naturally, he cherished a chance to learn more about his wife’s family but this desire was strengthened by an urge to experience more fully the mystifying ways of the ancient race. He knew he was lucky to be allowed to fly over the island due to certain ancient restrictions that prevented males from touching the ground on the all-female community.

The Amazons had originally come to Paradise Island in ancient times to commune more closely with the Olympian goddesses and to embrace the ways of peace and love as embodied by Athena and Aphrodite. It was both a desire to live by the virtues and values of their goddess patrons as it was an attempt to separate themselves from the violence and masculine aggression they had experienced at the hands of the warriors who had captured them when Hercules first encountered their queen. The true nature of this encounter had been distorted in all their memories by a vengeful Hera, Queen of the Olympians and antagonist to Hercules, and it was only recently that the truth had been exposed. Hercules and Hippolyta had been attracted to one another and their union produced a son Hippolytus who had been secreted away in a timeliness dimension called Arcadia until Nubia met him. While Hippolyta and her daughters Nubia, Diana, and Donna now fully embraced the heroic Hippolytus as family, even he was not allowed to set foot on the islands. He contented himself with visiting nearby Science Isle.

J’onn listened intently. As a native of Mars, he knew what it was like for a prosperous community to be devastated by disaster. Commander Blanx had unleashed a powerful energy called the Blue Flame on Mars in an act of madness that had ruined the planet and driven most Martians like J’onn’s parents to resettle on a colony world called Vonn or New Mars. Only recently due to the super powered restoration of the original Mars by J’onn’s younger brother T’omm had the Martians begun to return to their home.
He had no desire to see Paradise Island become another such wasteland!

He gazed at Queen Hippolyta and as she nodded in permission, he used his mental telepathy to read her thoughts and broadcast them to Nubia as she held his hand.

They saw a vivid scene as Queen Hippolyta, dressed in a filmy gown of pale pink, knelt by a prostrate woman in blue and gently cradled her in her arms. A huge statue of Apollo loomed above them.

“Penelope, what is it? What dire omen do you see? What is the fate of our people….of our home? You may speak the truth! We trust your special bond with our goddesses and as always we promise to heed your oracular wisdom!” said the troubled Warrior Queen.

Nubia gasped as she felt her mother’s strong emotions and through the memory link, saw what had occurred that night in the temple..

Penelope wept so hard that her shoulders shook with the emotion and she gazed up at the Queen’s expressive blue eyes with a gaze of her own that conveyed despair and horror!

“Nothing! I sense nothing! I saw no vision of the future! I felt no bond with any of our goddesses! It was not that I received no vision from them. It was much worse! I could not sense their presence at all! They were not silent. They were absent entirely! I fear the Olympians have forsaken Paradise Island!” cried Penelope.

Now, as J’onn broke off the mental link, he frowned and thought, “Nubia has met and even fought with Olympians like Mars and his agents. She had seen and heard Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Diana even tried to turn Mars into JLA custody once according to Justice League files. If these palpably real beings are missing, then, the Amazon culture itself is truly bereft. I must help her!”

“We will find them! If the absence of the gods and the presence of monsters like Kallisto are in fact linked as logical would suggest, we will find them and remedy this threat!” vowed Nubia.

Queen Hippolyta smiled as she touched the couple in gesture of thanks.

“I would expect no less from you for you are greatly beloved to us all!” she said.

J’onn said, “I am very familiar with teleportation devices and space craft but how does one reach Zeus and the other Olympians?”

Nubia smiled confidently as she said, “You may leave that part of our mission to me!”

3

J’onn listened intently as his beloved led him across a spacious pavilion lined with stately statues of the Olympian deities.

Nubia said, “I have been reading a few of the mysteries that you and Ralph love so much and if I may use the vernacular, I intend to begin by returning to the scene of the crime so to speak! That is, I mean to journey to Mount Olympus itself and ask the gods to explain the plight that has befallen my homeland!”

The Martian Manhunter smiled broadly. Nubia was a remarkable woman in so many ways. It pleased him that she had taken an interest in his favorite reading materials!

He said, “I admire your logic among other things! Will your plane enable us to make such a cross-dimensional journey? I know it may traverse space itself!”

Wonder Woman said, “Actually, our means of travel is directly in front of you! Look upward at the Grey-Eyed goddess and prepare yourself for a magical experience!”

J’onn studied the huge statue of Athena that loomed far above all the other statues. He knew that Athena and Aphrodite were the main patronesses of the Amazon nation.
“Fascinating! The eyes of the statue are portals to Olympus! I believe I can detect an energy aura that flickers ever so slightly across her eyes when I study them with my Martian vision!” he said.

“You are one of the only people to realize this. My mother and sisters and I were the others. You are part of the family now so it is only fitting that you know the secret of the Oraculum as we call the portal!” she said.

He leaned over and kissed Nubia for a moment and then as she smilingly extended her hand, he flew skyward and the two passed through Athena’s right eye to emerge in an entirely different realm!

J’onn glanced around the seemingly endless vista to see an enormous plaza filled with gleaming temples and ornate columns, pottery, statues, and altars that defied his sense of space and time as they appeared to exist in more than one dimension at a time.

“What we are seeing is merely a representation that our minds may process! The true nature of this realm defies mortal senses!” he whispered.

Nubia said, “It is breathtaking! Donna told me about it and our artisans have created their own versions of it as imparted to them through divine inspiration but it is truly beyond words!”

J’onn frowned and he said, “And it is empty! I can sense no living beings with any of my Martian senses although magic may in fact be clouding them!”

Wonder Woman said, “By Hera! Something is upon us!”

She jumped forward and brought her sword around in a dazzling arc that met a charging beast who seemed to materialize from out of thin air!

The creature was heavily armored and combined the attributes of bird and lion! It roared and screeched its defiance through a razor sharp beak that opened to reveal gleaming teeth. It spread its golden wings as it reared up on its back legs.

Nubia whirled around as she allowed the sword to finish its arc. She kicked out at the griffin and drove it backward from the force of her blow.

J’onn flew upward and then descended with crushing impact. He struck the monster’s back and elongated his arms until they encircled it.

“I can hold it but I can sense it is not alone! I think some kind of invisibility or mental shield is cloaking more occupants!” he said.

Nubia nodded as she ducked beneath a swiping paw and used the hilt of her sword to knock the griffin out.

“I feel them too! Some warrior instinct tells me you are right!” he said.

She grabbed her lasso from on her hip and began to spin it around in a widening circle until the magical fabric began to hum or vibrate as it passed through the air!

“The air is blurring around us! The lasso vibrations are bringing concealed aspects of this realm into sync with us!” she said.

J’onn understood the concept since he was aware that Nubia’s sister Diana had adopted a process not entirely different in technique in order to alter her clothing when she needed to change rapidly from her role as Diana Prince to Wonder Woman. While she had only started using the enchantment or the lasso’s vibrational ability after he had left the JLA years before, he knew about it from a meticulous study he had made of all JLA records upon his return years later!

Slowly, the duo began to see what the magical distortion field had previously concealed. Mount Olympus was not entirely deserted! A few wild monsters from myth roamed aimlessly through the citadel and something….something dark and powerful lurked beyond them within the Palace of Zeus, King of Olympus!

Nubia said, “You feel it too! I can tell. The heart of this mystery lies within!”

J’onn said, “I can handle the monsters if you wish to enter!”

Wonder Woman smiled winningly and said, “Thank you! I hate to wait even a moment when so much is at stake for my sisters!”

She felt the same thrill that J’onn had brought into her life when they first met. He respected her abilities completely and had no hesitancy to trust that she could take care of herself. She didn’t doubt his love for her and she relished the truth that he was completely free from any desire to try to control or inhibit her. He merely loved her and knew that she was driven by the very traits that endeared her to him to risk life and limb as few others could ever do!

She jumped across the plaza and raced up the winding stairs that led into the Palace of Zeus.

He recognized the nearest creature as a Cyclops! The massive humanoid grunted and stumbled about guided by one central eye!

“Green man, you will be a fine meal in spite of your strange hue!” said the Cyclops.

J’onn said, “I beg to differ. In fact, I’d suggest you consider going vegan!”

He stood his ground as the beast lumbered toward him and reached out with a twisted hand.

He grabbed the monster’s wrist and twisted with his own super human strength. The monster cried out and sailed through the air to land with a crash!

It lurched upward for a moment only to collapse as the Martian Manhunter connected with a final punch.

“I hated to do that. The poor creature seemed nearly mindless. I fear that whatever has happened to the Amazons has also left creatures of myth like the Cyclops in a frightened and frantic state!” he thought.

He prepared to intercept the remaining beast as it charged toward him.

The beast combined the attributes of a serpent with a bird. The red scaled creature sniffed the air with a flickering tongue and flapped two leathery wings as it approached.

“Some kind of dragon or…worse still, a salamander!” he gasped as the monster breathed a cloud of black smoke and flames!

He fell backward as the flames sapped his strength.

“My Martian weakness to fire would come into play at the worst moment!” he thought as he rolled to one side and began to study the area in search of the best tactic by which he could defeat the monster!

He ignored his weakened muscles and struggled to plunge into a clear pool that floated as if in the air nearby. Moments later, he emerged across the complex. The salamander was now off in the distance!

“The waters are another form of the portal that led us here. I supposed avoiding the beast is as good as defeating it!” he mused.

He flew toward the Temple of Zeus and hurried to find his wife!

Within the Palace of Zeus, Wonder Woman quickly made her way down empty halls and emerged in a gigantic audience chamber which was dominated by a massive throne.

“Zeus is not here nor are the other Olympians! I may only assume their absence is what has caused the blight on Paradise Island and led to the rather uncontrolled actions of some of their customary captive beasts like the griffin and the bear-maid!” she mused.

She shuddered involuntarily as the dark presence she had felt from outside made itself know!

Dozens of savage looking faces appeared out of a cloud of inky darkness! The heads seemed to be disembodied but they numbered around fifty and they moved with a weird unison but no matter how close they came to the Amazon Princess, they never emerged from out of the blackness that enveloped them!

“The Briareus! The legendary bodyguard of Zeus!” she gasped as the creature rose up and she finally glimpsed its hundred arms from beneath the fifty heads and the inhuman darkness that composed its body.

Nubia was as fleet as Hermes himself but she could not dodge so many hands at once! She fell beneath the crushing embrace of the monster and she gasped as each touch chilled her skin and seemed to freeze her!

“I’m losing feeling in my body! Its touch is poisoning or numbing me!” she thought.

Her sword clattered to the ground after several of the grasping hands had torn it from her. She could not reach the lasso either since her hips had been completely covered by more of the smothering hands.

As her breathing began to slow down, Nubia grabbed her tiara and hurled it with the precision of the Warrior Princess!

The golden tiara sliced directly through the monster’s chest and returned to her outstretched hand.

She grunted with pain as the beast slammed her against the floor and then dropped her as it clutched its own wounded chest.

At that moment, she retrieved her fallen sword and sought to rub the feeling back into her numb limbs. She sheathed her sword and swiftly wrapped one end of the lasso around her other hand. She calmly took her time as the monster moved toward her and then allowed it to charge at her as she nimbly danced aside and looped one pair of its hands within the golden lasso.

“Creature, you who once battled Zeus on order of the Titans, have long since served as his loyal minion! See, the truth that the lasso that binds us both, compels me to speak! I merely seek Great Zeus and wish him no harm! My people have long revered the glory of Olympus!”

Briareus hesitated as the magical power of the golden lasso reached even its small brain and the inhuman creature seemed to cower in confusion.

Nubia studied the beast and then realized, “It doesn’t know what happened to Zeus! Without Zeus and the others to guide them the monsters of myth have been left aimlessly wondering where they may! The curse on Paradise Island is due to the very same source. The blessings of the gods are withering away in their absence! The malice I sensed from Briareus was merely the hostility of what could almost be called a scared and abandoned pet.”

J’onn flew into the room and said, “I sense the truth from your expression! Mount Olympus holds no answers to what has happened to your patrons! The gods and goddess have literally vanished!”

Nubia nodded grimly. “What kind of power could abduct or compel them to leave their home and desert their followers?”

4

Wonder Girl II (Cassie Sandsmark) glanced through the windows of her mother’s station wagon as a beautiful woman guided the old car through a charming little town called Olympia, Virginia.

Artemis (Donna Troy Long) pushed her long black hair away from her face as she drove the car and looked upward at the cloudy skies over the tiny town of Olympia, Virginia.

“I’m glad we found this sleepy little town! It looks like a storm is coming! I know your mother and Terry would worry about us if we were stranded in the wild while they were having their seminar at the college back in Roanoke!” she said.


She referred to the fact that her husband Professor Terry Long and Cassie’s mother Professor Helena Sandsmark were colleagues at Raeburn College in New York and their academic pursuits had led them to conduct a seminar at Roanoke College in Virginia. While the two scholars worked, Donna and Cassie had decided to do some sightseeing in rural Virginia only to become lost! Donna was very patient and she really didn’t mind driving around through such lovely scenery since she was a skilled photographer with an eye for natural beauty. She also relished having time to get to know Cassie better since she had become fond of her during an adventure in which they had learned Cassie was in fact the daughter of Zeus himself! After receiving some training from the Mentor of Heroes Chiron in a timeless realm called Arcadia, the pretty blonde sixteen year old had impressed Donna and Nubia with her courage, wit, and super powers! Artemis had embraced the younger girl fully even to the extent of giving her a modified version of her red costume and giving her her blessing to use her old name of Wonder Girl.

“What a charming town! I love that quaint little craft shop as well as the florist store to the right!” said Donna.

Cassie stifled a yawn and said, “Sure. It is cute but I don’t even see a mall. It looks as if that big department store Herman’s is the only other store in town! I was hoping to get the new Betty Gilson CD!”

Donna looked over at the big square building with the ornate logo that read Herman’s!

“You may be right. A flower shop, a craft store, some kind of fix it shop, and that little wedding planner office make up all of Main Street!”

“Wow! I wouldn’t have expected to have found such a glamorous babe in this neck of the woods!” said Cassie as she nodded toward a gorgeous blonde woman dressed in the height of fashion who walked seductively down the street toward the Herman’s store!

Donna nodded and said, “I’ve photographed some famous super models and I grew up surrounding by immortal beauties on Paradise Island, but that woman really is something special!”

At that moment, the darkening sky seemed to open up as a flock of strange monstrous birds swooped down and attacked the sexy blonde!

“We better help her! I’m pulling over!” said Donna. They parked the car and jumped out after making a hasty change into their costumed identities of Artemis and Wonder Girl!

Wonder Girl wore the famous red leotard with its star patterned motif and black high heeled boots that Artemis had previously worn. She also wore red star shaped earrings and carried a gleaming lasso on one hip. The lasso had been a gift from Zeus her father and it possessed magical powers all its own!

She blocked a screeching bird with one bracelet as she tried to shield the fallen woman from the remaining birds. The birds were inhumanly fierce and possessed knife-like teeth!

Artemis had swiftly stepped protectively over the cowering blonde as well. She deflected a swooping bird with a flash of her bracelets.

Artemis herself wore a new costume designed to more fully pay tribute to her sister Diana. With Wonder Woman’s approval, Donna wore blue leggings with silver stars down each side, blue high heeled boots, a red corset with a stylized gold eagle and a blue jacket. She was proud to represent her own adult identity with the name of both her sister and the mythological protector of women and animal life as well as a costume that celebrated the legacy of Wonder Woman!

Artemis shook her head. ““A flock of Stymphalian birds plagued Hercules! They eat human flesh and their beaks are razor sharp!” How could a sleepy little town like this hold so much trouble? Did it follow us here? A mythological threat certainly has more in common with an Amazon Princess like me than it does with a rural Virginia town!”

Artremis said, “They aren’t flying away. They seem to be determined to attack us or the woman!”

“Yeah, getting lost in Mayberry would be bad enough if those creepy birds hadn’t swooped down!” thought Wonder Girl as she punched at one of the metallic feathered creatures.

Artemis ducked under the attack of one bird and then spun around to catch it and slam it to the ground.

“We aren’t going to tire but neither are they! We need to try something new!” she said.

She whipped out her lasso and spun it around in ever increasing loops until the force of the mystical rope drew the monstrous birds together as if attracted by some whirlpool! She skillfully drew the lasso closer and slammed the captive flock into the nearby stream. The water seemed to boil for a moment and then was still.

“You did it! They aren’t moving!” cried Wonder Girl.

At that moment, an odd figure emerged from the fix-it shop and limped over to them. He wore greasy overalls and his face was slightly asymmetrical. He walked with difficulty and wore heavy leg braces.

“I’m Festus. I saw you save my wife! That was amazing! Are you hurt, Cyndi?” he asked.

The stricken blonde shook her head as long, blonde locks cascaded about her shoulders.

“No, I am bruised and cut but not seriously injured! Why won’t those horrors leave us alone? Why do they torment us so?” She sobbed as she allowed her husband to lead her away.

“A babe like that is married to Goober? There’s more than one mystery here!” thought Cassie.

5

The two heroines barely had time to look around the odd little town before hearing yells of distress!

They rushed forward and saw another scene of horror in which a mythological monster was attacking frightened citizens!

The creature had the ruddy body of a huge lion; however, it also possessed large black bat-like wings and a lethal looking tail that resembled a scorpion’s sting! The most unsettling feature consisted of its human looking head and facial features! The beast had cornered a couple who were struggling to find an escape!
The man was distinguished looking with a silvery gray beard and a costly suit. The woman next to him was equally refined with a rather haughty blonde beauty all her own. While other citizens including some uniformed policemen were trying to help them, the monster seemed to ignore everyone else except for its intending targets!

“That thing’s got the mayor and his wife!” cried a frightened onlooker!

Artemis said, “Get them to safety! I’ll tame the manticore!”

Wonder Girl nodded as she leaped forward and began to usher people away from the beast.

“Manticore? Donna’s right. This Olympia, Virginia clearly has more than one connection to Mount Olympus or the magical realm of the gods like my Dad!” she thought.

Wonder Girl helped the couple to their feet as Artemis tackled the manticore and shoved it backward!

“Follow me, I’ll help you!” said the pretty blonde as she glanced back at the battle!

The old man looked at her oddly and said, “I know you! You aren’t from around here and yet I could swear that I know you!”

His wife clutched a small briefcase to her chest. It had a logo that read Peacock Wedding Planners!

“This is no time for you to be flirting with a young girl! We have to get free from that thing!” she shouted.

Wonder Girl ignored the woman even as she urged the couple to follow her along with some bruised and battered cops!

As the teen heroine focused her attention on helping the townspeople, the monster glanced at her with a strange look in its eyes. “You have the same foul scent as our prey!” hissed the beast.

Artemis had wasted no time in engaging the beast. She knew how strong such a magical monster could be and thus, she had slammed into it with all her considerable strength!

The manticore clawed at her but she twisted around and avoided its attack. She brought her knee up into its side as she gripped it around the waist and pulled backward.

Artemis frowned as she pummeled the manticore and dodged it venomous tail!

The huge stinger almost caught her from behind but she flipped aside to avoid it.

The manticore rose into the air and tried to grab her but she kicked desperately and managed to stay out of its grasp.

She started to move closer even as she kept one eye on the darting stinger.

“It claims Cassie has something in common with the locals. I think I suspect what that connection may be although I’m not sure my theory isn’t crazy!”

She grunted as the manticore suddenly charged directly at her with surprising speed! She was swift but this monster from myth was faster!

Artemis fell hard as the beast settled down on top of her! She struggled furiously as the stinger moved perilously close to her face. She caught the sides of it and fought to prevent the pointed barb from touching her.

She struggled and then slowly succeeded in forcing the stinger away from her body and then slamming it into the pavement with shattering impact!

In the few moments it took for the manticore to rip free from the ground, Artemis connected with a punch that knocked it out.

She sighed with relief as Wonder Girl ran back to her side.

“That was awesome! You’re a real wonder!” she said.

Artemis smiled and then said, “Thanks. Was anyone hurt? It had the opportunity to harm plenty of people before we arrived but it seemed determined to only go after certain citizens!”

Wonder Girl said, “Yeah. And it said something weird about me being like its prey!”

Artemis looked across the street to where a pale man dressed all in black stood at the door of an accounting firm. He looked longingly at a lovely young woman who was arranging a display in the window of the flower shop.

“Death and taxes?” “ thought Artemis.

“These people…. this town…I think some of them but not all of them are like you. I think they are descendents of Zeus and the other Olympians!” she said.

Wonder Girl said, “Artemis, one of them seemed to know me. I think they said he was the town mayor. He was the old guy the manticore attacked. This may be nutty but I think he acted like he knew me. Could he really be Zeus? He looks different but I know them can change shape!”

The man in question approached them slowly and said, “I overheard you. Young lady, I do feel a connection to you. I don’t know why. You see, many of us here have no memories of our lives before we found ourselves here. We were known to the others and we seemed to fit our various roles perfectly. I am a fine leader. My wife Helen is good at managing things. This memory loss I spoke of doesn’t seem to bother us. None of us who can’t remember things are motivated to find out why we are this way. It all seems so strange! Those monsters that have been tormenting some of us are frightening but only now do I realize that we all seemed to accept their existence too easily! Seeing your face made me start to question the status quo! Am I in truth Zeus? Am I your father?”

A grey eyed woman emerged from the crowd and said, “I was at the school when I heard about the latest attack. Are you hurt?”

The old man said, “Tina is my daughter. She teaches at the school and does a bit of coaching too!”

Artemis said, “Sir, would you hold this rope for a moment? It won’t harm you.”

She gestured to Wonder Girl who extended the magical lasso she wore at her hip. As the lasso touched the Mayor’s hand, his eyes widened and he gasped in shock.

“I remember! I do indeed! I am Great Zeus, King of Olympus! My family dwells here as well! Hades is the accountant, Hermes operates the store, Ares is the football coach and all of us have lost our sense of self! We have been submerged within mortal roles and we have been stripped of our powers!”

He approached Wonder Girl and touched her face tenderly with one hand.

“My daughter you have restored my memories but I am still bereft of my power. I am also at a loss as to how this dire plight befell us!”

Wonder Girl said, “Dad… I mean….do I call you that? Maybe, we should take you to Paradise Island and let the Amazons try to figure this out.”

Artemis said, “The purple healing ray might have the power to bring them back to their proper conditions but I also think it would wrong to leave the town unguarded. More of those monsters could show up in our absence. Let me call Nubia and see if she can take some of them to the Island while we stay here to safeguard the rest.”

Zeus said, “Whoever has dared insult the Master of the Thunder will regret their day of birth so do I swear!”

6

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter were concluding their search of the deserted Mount Olympus.

“I know distances may not be exactly as they appear to our mortal senses but we have combed this citadel thoroughly and found no one!” said J’onn.

Nubia nodded and she walked toward him. She hated to give up when so much rested upon her success.

“I do not think there is anything left for us to do here and yet something makes me want to remain!” she said.

She frowned as she gazed across the compound.

“We’re being watched. Call it a warrior’s intuition if you will but I feel some hostile force is watching us!” she said.

J’onn said, “I agree. I can not detect any thoughts but I sense something just beyond the range of my mental powers. I would call it cerebral static for lack of a scientific term!”

At that moment they were abruptly transported from Mt. Olympus itself to a smaller mountain that rose directly across from it.

A series of ornate palaces lined the misty slope and two majestic figures lounged on thrones of marble.

“Welcome to Mount Othrys, mortals! Your courage and wisdom have earned you this audience with the true rulers of Olympus. We are the Titans and your quest for our rebellious heirs will cease now!” said a powerful looking blond man in a black cloak.

Next to him sat a lovely blonde in a dark hooded cloak of her own.

“My brother-husband Creus speaks the truth. While we honor your valor, we will not allow you to undo our work! I am Mnemosyne and it is through our combined might that we have regained our former glory by robbing our spiteful heirs of their memories and their powers!” she said.

Wonder Woman said, “You are two of the surviving Titans! You were overthrown and imprisoned by Zeus before the dawn of time! My sister Artemis said you had been freed and had made peace with your offspring!”

Creus said, “What peace may be had with spoiled brats? Would you allow your own infants to dictate your conduct or circumscribe your every action? It was intolerable and we have regained what our usurpers took from us!”

Nubia said, “By removing Zeus and the others you have also prevented their blessing our island home and from securing monsters that threaten all who have any connection to their former Olympian captors!”

Mnemosyne said, “You are full of grief and anxiety but do not fear. What troubles loom large in your frail mortal soul at this moment shall be forgotten ere long! Such is my power and such is my gift!”

At that moment she gestured with one delicate hand and the duo knew no more!

7

Beijing, China

Hai Chen stifled a yawn as she carefully filed another invoice in her small office. As a secretary at
Golden Wind Records, she was used to her boring routine but that did not mean the pretty twenty-four year old didn’t occasionally yearn for something more.

She was grateful to have a job in a traditionally male dominated sphere and she also realized that association with prominent executives gave her privileges denied most women her age; however, she was not satisfied with the government of her country. She was not exactly an intellectual but she knew the price so many young academics had paid during the harsh repressive purges of the sixties. Her late uncle had died in a labor camp and she had been raised to keep her mouth shut and never associate with anyone who could even remotely be classified as an enemy of the Party. This did not mean that she did not have her own ideas and she kept her hatred of the Communist doctrine to herself. She knew not to express views that could lead to trouble or even arrest. She was iron-willed in her self-control. Nothing would cause her to reveal her true feelings even though keeping such feelings inside was a matter of nearly constant effort for one who hated the oppression and injustice around her.

Luckily, mild mannered secretary Hai Chen had a secret. She had far more going for her than her demure outward appearance and soft whispery voice would indicate. She had a second identity and in this role, she was a dynamic champion of the old China that existed long before the Communists came!

She frowned as a loud crash seemed to shake the building. She rushed to the window and saw a remarkable sight. A crater-like hole now marked the street and from this point of impact a woman in a red, blue, and gold costume emerged and then screamed in anger!

“Wonder Woman! I know it must be her! Only she could crash to earth in such a manner and survive! This is indeed fitting since she played such a fateful role in our family history!” she thought.

She locked her office door, removed her thick glasses, let down her long silky hair from its customary tight bun, and brought both arms together in such a manner that the ornate golden bracelets she wore on each arm beneath her white blouse struck one another!

A glow surrounded her and she was suddenly transformed into a taller and entirely more striking woman! She was radiantly beautiful! She wore an elaborate pink and gold patterned lamellar armor
that covered her chest and torso while leaving her legs and arms bare except for the gold bracelets on each arm and golden laced sandals that wrapped around each leg and ended just below the knee.
Pink ribbons decorated each limb. A small golden tiara rested within her luxurious black hair. She wore a bow across her shoulders along with a quiver and a sword hung over one hip.

“It is entirely fitting that the famous Wonder Woman who was benefactress to my esteemed ancestor now meets the Wonder Woman of China- Princess Mei!” she said with a broad smile.


8

Princess Mei raced out of the office building at a speed that made her seem only a blur to anyone who
might be nearby. She leaped across the street and reached down into the shattered pavement to assist the apparently stricken Wonder Woman!

Before the Chinese heroine could speak, Nubia lashed out at her with a backhanded blow that narrowly missed her.

“No one may thoughtlessly touch a Daughter of Mars!” she shouted.

She jumped out of the rubble left by her fall and she drew her gleaming word.

Princess Mei frowned as she circled the angry Amazon and raised her own sword.

“Calm yourself. You renounced the ways of Mars long ago. This much I know!” she said.
Nubia started to bring her sword down on the smaller woman but Princess Mei proved to be equally skilled and she blocked the attack with a lightning quick move of her own.

She ducked down and rolled nimbly forward! As she rose upward from the acrobatic movement, she snatched Nubia’s gleaming lasso and flipped it across her legs.

“Calm down! Find your peace! Know yourself, sister!” she cried as she held the magic lasso.

Nubia blinked rapidly before smiling slowly.

“I am well! You have restored my senses. I truly thought I was once again the chosen Warrior Princess of dread Mars himself! That bit of memory manipulation came from the source of my current problem!” she said.

She extended one open hand to Princess Mei who accepted it and smiled broadly at her heroine.

“I am Princess Mei. I am the descendent of ancient Amazons who settled and had families in old China!”
she said.

Nubia said, “Come with me. We’ve attracted more attention that either of us would like!”

She nodded toward approaching uniformed men who appeared to be military soldiers.

The two women leaped away and found a secluded shelter between two larger structures. The narrow alleyway gave them a bit of privacy.

“Nubia! Are you hurt? I landed some distance from you. The friction of our fall robbed me of my senses for a time!” said J’onn as he suddenly turned visible before them.

“ I am unharmed but I am angry. I am glad you are equally well. Your mental powers enabled you to preserve your own memories! This is my partner J’onn J’onnz. This is my new ally Princess Mei!” she said hurriedly as she grasped the Martian Manhunter’s hand.

Princess Mei smiled and said, “We have met. We were allies in a battle against the Red Dragon some time ago!”

J’onn nodded and said, “Indeed! I found Mei to be a worthy friend. She and I dealt with both the Communist agent and a real dragon he had inadvertently summoned!”

Nubia said, “The very fact that you retain such memories makes me realize once more how precious such self-awareness can be and how deadly our foe is! Mnemosyne somehow banished or imprisoned the Olympians. How can we stop her? I swear I will find a way!”

Princess Mei said, “I do not have all the facts but if gods are threatened perhaps other gods may rescue them?”

Nubia relied, “By Hera, you may have provided me with the answer we need! It was a guiding Fate that brought me to you!”
Princess Mei said, “Is it not said that even the Olympians bow to the ways of Fate?”

J’onn said, “We are about to find out!”

9

Later, as some of the altered Olympians assembled on Science Isle, Chief Scientist Paula and Queen Hippolyta conferred in the lab.

“I am troubled by seeing our patronesses trapped in mortal form and yet their amnesia explains why so many monsters have been loose of late and why our island is in such a blighted condition. Without their care and vigilance the natural order itself is no more!” said the blonde warrior queen.

Paula said, “And yet while Wonder Girl’s lasso restored their memories they remain powerless in spite of the ray’s most potent radiation. Should they be taken back to Olympus itself? I was able to bring some of them here in the Swan plane but in Nubia’s absence I may be one of the only Amazons who can freely travel!”

Paula was not in truth an Amazon. She had been born Paula Von Guntha and had opposed the first Wonder Woman with her scientific brilliance until the Amazing Amazon had helped her reform and had given her a purpose and a home on Paradise Isle. As Chief Scientist Paula, she enjoyed challenges and had found sisterhood with the Amazons but unlike the ageless beauties, she could leave the island home if necessary.

At that moment, Jocasta lovely woman with long chestnut colored hair entered the lab and bowed in deference to her superiors.

“Queen Hippolyta, Chief Scientist Paula, the mental radio has received messages from Princess Nubia and Princess Donna. While the Princess Donna continues to protect the citizens of the Virginia community that has become a home for our gods, Princess Nubia reports that she has learned the Titans are behind the plight of Father Zeus and the others!” she said in a breathless tone of voice.

Queen Hippolyta said, “And have the Princesses conferred with one another?”

Jocasta replied, “Yes, Majesty. Princess Nubia was relieved to learn where the missing Olympians were and Princess Donna was interested in learning the origin of their dilemma! Princess Nubia plans to restore the proper order…!”

At that moment, a burly man with a red beard shoved a door open and marched inside to confront the startled women. He wore a thick sweatshirt and a whistle hung about his neck.

“I have heard enough! The Titans dare to attack us? I say we will wage war until they repent or perish!”
he bellowed.

“Mars, I caution you that the matter is being handled. In your present state, in your weakened condition, you would only present more problems should you challenge the Titans!” said Hippolyta as she faced down her estranged father the god of war. She was slightly startled by his mode of dress and yet she could readily accept that as a mortal he would perform well as a football coach!
Mars scowled as he faced his daughter. She stepped closer to him and refused to back away as her own steely gaze stared into his angry eyes. Finally, he stepped back and lowered his eyes.

“ I will bide my time for now. You were ever my favorite! You know that! It is for that very reason that your rejection of my power stung the more sharply!”

Hippolyta hesitated and then placed one hand on his chest.

“Father, you know how my feelings for you only altered because of the manner in which you changed! You were not always so full of anger and hate! “ she said slowly.

Aphrodite the goddess of love of beauty walked into the room and sighed heavily. She was of course, Cyndi the store fashion model in her mortal role. She was used to a combative relationship with Mars. Their diametrically opposed views had led to more than one battle and their mutual passions had led to a torrent affair in ancient days.

“Mars, your words prove what I have ever declared. Love is indeed stronger than any force and it was the severing of your relationship with your favored daughter, Hippolyta the Fair that embittered your very heart with hatred!” she said in a rather smug tone of voice.

Mars whirled to face the seductive beauty as she walked closer with a slinky stride.

“You bedevil me with your allure as always but your words lack the conviction of brute force!”
he said as he raised his fist.

“Stop! We need not make a bad situation worse by fighting like this! We must act together and in doing so regain our proper place in the heavens!” said a regal man with curly blond hair and quick intelligent eyes. He wore a costly business suit and moved with the grace of a dancer and he spoke with a persuasive charm.

“Hermes, leave the ways of war to me. You belong behind the counter of your store where your glibness may seduce customers!” said Mars.

Hermes, who had owned the Herman’s Department Store merely laughed as if he found great amusement in the exchange!

Queen Hippolyta said, “I ask you all to trust that Princess Nubia will succeed in restoring you all. She is capable as you all know.”

Mars shrugged and said, “Aye, that she is! She was nearly your equal, daughter, when I taught her the glories of combat! I admit that readily!”

Queen Hippolyta sat down and crossed her legs as she watched them bicker.

“I know we need them in order to restore our beloved home but I also wonder if this mortality might not be the means to a way to finally reconcile with Mars and to restore him to his former self….to the way he was before he became a monster!” she thought.

It was a dilemma worthy of the beautiful woman’s loving heart and a challenge to her regal composure.

If in this time of stress, she whispered any prayer to her fallen patrons she did so only in solitude.

10

Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter had been joined by Princess Mei as they soared into space within the Chinese heroine’s “Celestial Chariot.”

“Your ship is remarkable! It clearly is based on some of our Amazon technology but the stylization is beautiful! It truly is a work of art!” said Nubia.

Princess Mei said, “I am merely the current custodian of the gift of the gods! I offer you my thanks and I offer them my appreciation!”

J’onn said, “We appreciate the way you allowed us to use your communications devices as well. They enabled Nubia to gain the facts about what has happened from both her sister and her mother!”

Nubia was silent as she contemplated all she had learned.

“Zeus in mortal form? All of them trapped with amnesia! I think Mei was right. It will take superior force to combat this foe! Pray Hera, we may live to secure such aid!” she thought.

Princess Mei said, “Wonder Woman, we are warping through both space and time according to the coordinates you enabled me to access remotely from your own plane’s computer! I have never seen such wonders as a universe near its end!”

Nubia said, “The Palace at the Edge of Time does indeed live up to its name! Diana survived a quest to its astonishing grandeur and palpable power and so shall we!”

J’onn said, “Fascinating! You say in spite of the name this realm has nothing to do with the lairs of time travelers like the evil Time Master?”

Nubia shook her head. “No. This entire dimension was created for one purpose only. It serves as a safe and heavily protected sanctuary where the gods of various pantheons may meet to confer and to work out treaties of accord!”

J’onn smiled as he said, “A Camp David for the gods!”

They concentrated on their trip as the sky changed hues and stars seemed to burst around them! Finally, after being engulfed by an overwhelmingly brilliant light, they emerged in front of a massive palace that loomed over a rocky platform in the middle of space!

“Those sentinels look menacing!” said Princess Mei as she pointed to two stone giants who stood at each side of the palace door.

“They are some type of golem! I have no doubt that they will come to life should we challenge their lonely vigil!” said Nubia.
J’onn said, “Perhaps, I could enter invisibly!”

“Do not presume to defy the sacred order! You have been detected and you will be allowed entry. You will state your reason for daring this presumptuous trespass and should you falter, you will de punished!”

The words echoed in their minds as a powerful telepathic message literally shook them!

As the Wonder Woman of China landed her Celestial Chariot, the three champions climbed out and slowly approached the awesome portal.

“I suspect we are being allowed access purely because in some manner the sentinels recognize my connection with Diana and recall how she was previously allowed to enter!” said Nubia.

Princess Mei raised one pink beribboned arm and said, “I think we will not soon forget such sights!”

J’onn kept his thoughts to himself. He was slightly bemused at what he saw as he walked into the palace.

“Much like our visit to Mount Olympus, I assume what we see is merely something our mortal minds may comprehend and the reality is far more cosmic and yet what I see looks like a rather simple and rustic lodge!” he thought.

He passed by sturdy tables and chairs and saw three grim looking beings looming above him. They stood on a slightly elevated platform and waited with an air of stoic menace.

The largest figure was an old man with flowing white hair and a long beard. His skin was weathered and one eye glared at them with an icy contempt. His other eye was covered with a patch decorated with a Nordic rune! He wore armor of leather and metal and a raven perched on his shoulder.

“I am Odin, King of Asgard! Your mortal world contains but few of my followers in these decadent times!” he said.

Next to him stood a silent being with dark skin and two remarkable eyes that glowed with different hues! The right eye seemed to blaze like a sun while the pale left eye gleamed like the moon. He wore skins of exotic animals and while he seemed aloof, he also expressed no outward malice. A large golden and red spider rested on his shoulder.

The spider said, “ I am Anasi the Herald! This is Nyame – He Who Does Not Speak! It is only within this timeless realm that he may open both his eyes and in doing so see all that is! We know all about you because your story… like all stories… belong to me and in turn to my master!”

The final being wore an elaborate headdress and carried a spear that seemed to glisten from every angle and shimmered as if it existed in more than one dimension at a time. It was reflective as a mirror and yet was strangely raw and jagged.

“I am Inti of the Sun! I am alone without one follower and I am not what once I was!” he said in a sad voice.
Princess Mei whispered, “Are there no gods from my culture?”

Odin said, “We are the only ones here at this particular time. This place is occupied by more beings of power than you could conceive, Comely One! But, let it be clear that we are more than enough to judge your effrontery!”

Nubia said, “Please, listen with patience! My Olympian patrons have been wrongly deposed by the Titans. We seek your aide in restoring them to their rightful place!”

Inti said, “I have no interest in the problems of foreign beings! I have little interest in anything!”

Suddenly, the Incan god vanished.

Odin said, “I frown on mortals who presume to meddle in matters of a divine nature. And yet, I have a son who delights in your kind. He would assist you such is his stubborn pride. I will not interfere should you seek him! While I have no dealings with the Titans, they are of no concern to me unless they should presume to challenge me and mine!”

Finally, the silent Nyame looked at the heroine and smiled.

The spider jumped down and assumed the form of a handsome, wiry man.

“You have been blessed! I have been granted permission to aide you and in doing so I will acquire what my heart delights in the most. I will secure new stories!” he said.

Nubia said, “Thank you! We will gladly accept your help!”

She whirled to walk out of the room as her friends followed her and Anansi bounded along.

She stopped at the door and looked back. “And we will triumph in spite of your indifference!”

Moments later, Odin’s frown became a small smile. He nodded approvingly and said, “That mortal has the soul of a Shield-Maiden! It would be well to have a mortal like that in my service!”

Nubia and her friends boarded the Celestial Chariot as Anansi rubbed his hands together with pleasure.

“There is nothing I enjoy more than a good story!”

11

Back in Olympia, Virginia, Artemis and Wonder Girl had managed to subdue a minotaur but had faced no other conflicts except for the strife engendered when the remaining Olympians regained their own memories after being touched by Cassie’s lasso. They were gathered within the town bar where they tried to make sense of their condition.

Festus the repairman was in truth Hephestus the god of fire and he muttered in anger as he realized that his wife Aphrodite had left with Mars.

“Women! Only my golden handmaidens may be trusted!” he said.

The gaunt accountant Harold Dees was in fact Hades god of the Underworld and his passion for the florist’s daughter reflected his true feelings for his bride Persephone daughter of the goddess of Nature!

He stood silently by his radiant wife’s side and he whispered to her in appropriately funereal tones.

“Imagine, we have been living as mortals! Perhaps, some of us may even taste of death should be curse not be broken! Death himself may die! What divine irony?” he said.

The portly bartender Dion Nyes was Dionysus and his Tiger Bar was a fitting location for a god of Wine to work. He poured himself a drink and watched the others intently.

A pretty woman in jeans and tennis shoes and a polo shirt shook her head.

“Even in the mortal world, they are no different. No wonder I prefer the company of animals! Although the shelter certainly housed more than its share of sad stories!” said Artemis goddess of the Hunt and the Moon.

Dr. Swan (Apollo) smiled radiantly at his sibling and said, “Mortals- be their human or animal – are all subject to disease and death. Such sorrow is merely part of their short lives! And your care for animals does not suit your image as a lethal huntress!”

Zeus and Hera sat together as their father squabbled. They had heard it all before.

Zeus was silent as he realized that his time “ruing” a small town as mayor had been similar to his role as ruler of Olympus. His family acted the same and fought in the same manner on Earth that they had on Olympus. Were they unable to change? Was change itself the one thing beyond their power? He was angry and he was depressed.

Hera had never seen him like this. She wondered if he was thinking of some town girl?

Nearby, Poseidon, god of the sea, in the role of a brawny sailor, sat at the bar and brooded. A bull was tattooed one arm and he had a full beard of luxurious dark hair.

“I do not like this. I still have worshippers in Atlantis. I deserve more than to cast out like this!” he thought.

Still, suddenly, much like the changing of the sea, his demeanor altered, and he decided that things would work out in time.

“Time and tide come to all!” he said softly.

Wonder Girl whispered to Artemis as they stood by the doors.

“Donna, I come from a really messed up family! Not knowing my Dad was bad enough but finding out he is Zeus and that my relations are so, so…!” she began.

Artemis put an arm around the teen girl and said, “Human? They act like flawed men and women. They had power and were still petty and cruel and selfish and yet equally capable of courage and heroism and creativity! That’s why their stories have survived. We may relate to their foibles and celebrate their victories! Honey, you’re just like all of us when it comes right down to it!”

Wonder Girl laughed suddenly and said, “Thanks, Donna. You have a real talent for taking the bizarre and making it seem perfectly normal! You’ll be a great Mom someday!”

Artemis smiled and said, “Terry and I have talked and neither of us want to have kids now. We’re more than happy with raising Jennifer! My crazy lifestyle precludes the duties of a normal mother. I’m actually still pretty young myself though you may not believe it!”

She said, “Nubia will fix things for them. We just have to keep them safe while she does her thing!”

Wonder Girl nodded and then she took a deep breath and slowly walked over to Zeus.

“ I don’t want to bug you or anything but may I sit with you?” she said softly.

Zeus looked up at the girl and smiled gently.

“Cassandra, I would like that very much!” he said.

12


Wonder Woman, the Martian Manhunter, Princess Mei, and the mysterious Anansi sailed to Mount Othrys where they barely had time to land the Celestial Chariot before they were attacked by a flock of horrid looking avian women with clawed talons and dirty wings. The creatures were made more unsettling by their human heads!

“Harpies! Be careful, their talons are razor sharp!” warned Nubia as she leaped forward and slammed her sword against the nearest attacker!

Princess Mei quickly followed and dropped to one knee as she aimed and fired a golden arrow!

The shaft struck a harpy in the wing and shredded the thin membrane causing the monster to veer off to the side and crash to the ground.

The Wonder Woman of China proved to be astonishingly capable with her bow and she brought down three more of the harpies in a matter of minutes!

Nubia had battered two of them to a senseless state and she whirled in turn to see the Martian Manhunter sent the rest away with a powerful burst of his Martian breath!

Anansi grinned broadly but he made no attempt to attack the bird-women nor did any of them approach him!

“Good details for a story! I like those weird things! They add color!” he said to himself.
J’onn frowned as he detected the approach of their foes! His keen mind was able to pick up their powerful thoughts even though they were shielding themselves in some manner.

“Creus and Mnemosyne are upon us!” he said as he concentrated and focused all his own attention on mentally shielding his friends!

“I won’t let them cause us to have amnesia this time! I am prepared for their attack!” he thought.

He trusted Nubia enough to leave the main battle to her. He was confident in her abilities and he felt that he could best help her by using the power he alone possessed. He drew upon certain mental disciplines he had learned during his time as a young man on Mars and he slowly and methodically created a mental barrier that protected Nubia and Mei. The thoughts in Anansi’s mind were so disjointed or perhaps so complex, that J’onn could neither read his mind nor shield it.

Creus and Mnemosyne suddenly appeared at the base of their own elaborate temple.

At that moment another flock of harpies swooped down in an attack formation.

Princess Mei shouted, “I will deal with them and keep them from J’onn while he performs his necessary task. You may confront the Titans!”

Nubia nodded. She was impressed with the young Chinese woman’s courage and skill.

She raced up the slope to confront the Titans at their lair. Anansi followed in his own inimitable manner of alternately leaping and crawling.

“You are a welcome diversion. I little expected such resolve from mortals!” said Creus.

Mnemosyne nodded in a bored manner as she gazed down at Wonder Woman.

“I will not forget these mortals although the world itself will soon do so!” she said with a sigh.

Nubia shouted, “No! I stand before you as the heir to the glory you represent! I am a Princess of the Amazon nation and you are my ancestors! You must not punish my people merely because of a grudge you have against the Olympians! Surely, as the gods of memory, you know how such petty spite has never served any true justice or remedied any wrong! Reclaim Olympus if you must, but do not let history repeat itself by hurting my people merely because your children wronged you!”

Creus said, “The Titans were imprisoned by the Olympians! Would you in turn seek to usurp our place?”

Nubia said, “No, but I would give my life to protect those I love! Would you not do the same? Is that not a motive you would honor? I would be heard by all the Titans. Where are your brethren?”

Below the temple, Princess Mei listened to the stentorian tones from above and thought, “Wonder Woman is truly amazing! She possesses far more than mere martial prowess. She has the heart of a champion!”

Mnemosyne said, “Your passion amuses me but I will not be dictated to by a mortal!”
Anansi said, “I would like to see the other Titans too. Supporting characters can enrich a story.”

At that moment eight other Titans appeared and stared in wonder at the scene.

Each of the sets of sibling-spouses shared a particular coloration as indicated by their hair and their garments.

Red haired Chronos and Rhea, gray haired Iapetus and Themis, green haired Oceanus and Tethy, and the black haired Coeus and Phoebe seemed confused by all they saw. They seemed to be seeing the world anew and acted as if they were awakening from a trance.

Chronos said, “What is the meaning of this? How have you conspired without our knowledge? You used your power to make us unaware of what you had done! You warred against our children and broke our sacred pact!”

Rhea said, “How could you turn against us? You benighted our senses so we would not be aware of your actions! Did you think to leave us as mindless drones for eons to come?”

Creus and Mnemosyne seemed greatly altered in demeanor by the appearance of their fellow Titans. They were clearly nervous if not frightened by their assembled peers.

Creus said, “We did wrong you. We admit as much! You will thank us in time! We knew you would not agree to our plan. You did not understand the pain of being forgotten like we would traffic in memories do! We knew that we could earn your approval in time if we merely had time to secure the cosmos for our mutual good!”

Mnemosyne took a different approach to their situation. She looked over at Anansi and said, “How did you restore them? This is your doing! You are immune to my power and I sense you are a servant of one beyond our sphere of influence!”

Anansi merely shrugged and said, “True! The plot thickens!”

Oceanus spoke in a voice like the rushing of mighty waters.

“You wronged us! You were as selfish as Thia! Would you share her fate?”

He referred to the Titan Thia who had interfered in the mortal world and had ultimately led a rebellion that led to her demise along with that of her husband-brother Hyperion! Following their fall, the other Titans had seemed eager to accept the offer of peace extended by Zeus and the other Olympians.

Nubia raised her hands and looked toward the other Titans as she said, “Her actions were not condoned by the rest of you. Please, restore the Olympians and talk this matter over! Do not act in haste and make innocent people suffer! While you were entranced so were the Olympians. In their absence, my people suffered the loss of the protective blessings of our patronesses Athena and Aphrodite!”

Phoebe said, “It is easy for us to undo this curse! As the moon’s progenitors, we see all!”

At that moment, all of the banished Olympians appeared and were restored to their previous level of mental and physical power.

Mars bellowed, “Attack them! Make them retreat to the shadowy pits of Tartarus!”

Zeus said, “No! I will not allow more strife amongst our kind!”

Thunder clapped and lightning flashed as the King of Olympus addressed his family.

“The pact was broken without our agreement. We have redressed the wrongs committed and we will duly punish the offenders!” said Chronos. “We have regretted our state of inactivity. We crave stimulation and we lack purpose but we would not have broken the sacred accord!”

Creus and Mnemosyne remained silent. They were not able to battle their siblings and offspring without the benefit of surprise. They had been defeated and they realized it.

Chronos said, “Zeus, will you again honor our previous pact? Once more let there be mutual peace among us.”

Zeus said, “We had previously agreed that the Titans would live in harmony with us. We learned that lesson from the mortal Titans. It appears we have more to learn from mortal champions. My time as a mortal showed me how petty and insular we have become. We have lost all touch with humanity. I will correct this as follows! I offer the Titans a home back on Mount Olympus. I order that they will be involved with us and in the protection of our followers such as the Amazons whose island home will be restored and the monsters will be captured once more!”

Nubia bowed low and said, “Thank you, Great Zeus!”

Zeus said, “However, I also decree that we Olympians will learn how to relate to the pains and triumphs of mere mortals by dwelling among them for half of each year until I decide we have learned enough!
We will surrender our powers during this time and we will live as mortals in the guises Mnemosyne created. I would see us grow and mature beyond the battling, cruel monsters we have become! So commands Zeus! The Titans will protect our domain and our followers during this time of penance. It is well past time for us to learn what it means to be human.”

If the other Olympians were opposed to his words, they made no response in word or deed. Even Mars lowered his gaze and said nothing.

Zeus said, “Mortals, we owe you thanks. We will speak more of this in private!

J’onn and Princess Mei had approached the temple as the Titans and the Olympians made peace. The harpies were no long a threat.

Nubia said, “Princess Mei, I thank you for your help!

Princess Mei smiled demurely and extended one beribboned arm.

“It has been an honor to stand by your side!” she announced.
Nubia clasped the other woman’s hand and they parted as allies as the petite heroine flew off in her chariot.

Wonder Woman started to thank Anansi but he was gone.

“Clearly, he has his own motives. Perhaps, he truly did merely want to acquire a new story!”
she said.

J’onn said, “He was truly an unusual being. I found him to be capricious but well-meaning.”

The couple embraced and walked toward Nubia’s plane. Their mission was done.

Back in Olympia, Virginia, Wonder Girl and Artemis had not realized the Olympians had ever vanished. Their arrival in and return Mount Othys had been instantaneous.

Zeus and Hera, dressed in their mortal roles, approached and held hands as they walked.

Zeus said, “Cassandra, we are well. We have regained our former glory but have decided to surrender it for a time. We are going to live here with humans and we are going to learn how we may best serve them when we do return to our customary power. I would learn to be a father to you, my child!”

Cassie said, “I’d like that. I still feel a little weird around you all but we’ll get used to one another!”

Zeus said, “Indeed, we shall! You have my word on that. You will be the daughter who teaches me to be a parent!”

Artemis smiled as she watched them embrace. She was always happy to see a family reunited since she had known both loss and rediscovery where her own family was concerned.

“Terry and Helena will have a real story when we explain where our shopping trip actually took us!”
she thought.

Back on Paradise Island, the blight had miraculously ended and the lush vegetation had been restored to its former glory.

Queen Hippolyta smiled as her subjects including a now overjoyed Penelope shouted their praises and offered their thanks!

Penelope whispered, “I feel closer to our patrons than ever before! I can not explain it but I feel so serene! It is like some new harmony has been found on Olympus!”

Queen Hippolyta smiled as well. She knew her daughters had succeeded! They were true champions!

“Well done, my daughters!” she said.

Epilogue 1

In a secluded spot in a realm all his own, Anansi sat and pondered.
“What I need is a hero of my own! I need one who will face tragedy and loss and experience triumph and victory. It would be fitting if he too was a spider-man! I will begin plotting now!” he said.

Epilogue 2

Nubia and Queen Hippolyta strolled down a sandy shore on Paradise Island, several days after the conclusion of their quest.

“J’onn has been strangely busy of late. I am glad to visit here once more!” said Nubia.

Queen Hippolyta said, “The secret of J’onn’s absence is tied to the reason I have brought you here to this particular spot. What do you see?”

Nubia stared at the shore and the sandy beach and frowned as her keen vision detected a faint shimmer in the air. The glow rested between two narrow columns that seemed to merely frame the open view of empty sand and sea.

“What is it? It seems like something is there but rests beyond the scope of ordinary vision. Is it a mirage or something more?” she said.

Queen Hippolyta said, “I call this avenue the Aisle of Ages. We used the radiation of the Time-Space Converter to alter the nature of this stretch of sand and shore. By walking down this path, you may travel to any point in space or time. It will enable you to easily travel from here to your New Orleans home or to your new subjects on Mars itself! J’onn and his brother T’omm completed portions of this project on Mars while your fellow Amazons did the rest here.”

Nubia said,” You mean I may literally walk down this path and end up on Mars and may return by the same method? That is wonderful! I was worried about neglecting either my Martian subjects or my duties here!”

Queen Hippolyta hugged Nubia and said, “You will find a new home on Mars as well. It is entirely composed of the same Amazilicon that forms your plane. It responded well to the mental commands of your Martian family. They were able to build it in hours via sheer thought!”

Nubia smiled eagerly and said, “You are all so wonderful! I can not wait to thank dear J’onn!”

She frowned as Cronus suddenly appeared in the sky over the island. He looked stern but not hostile.

“Nubia, Princess of Paradise Island. Your courage honored us. We owe you a debt and with the blessing of Zeus and our children, we now pay that debt!”he said.

He gestured and Nubia’s bracelets changed from their normal color and composition to a silvery metal of an unknown kind.

“Your bracelets are now composed of a fragment of the Aegeus itself! They are as indestructible as the shield of Zeus! No other Amazon will wear such a pair! Thus, do we honor you!”

He gestured once more and delicate silvery winged sandals appeared over her red boots.

“You will no longer need to merely ride the winds to fly. These magical sandals like those of fleet Hermes will allow you instant flight! Use them to honor us all!” he said as Nubia lowered her head and bowed in thanks.

Queen Hippolyta smiled as Nubia turned to face her.

“I am speechless! For so long, I thought of myself as one who needed to do much more than anyone else merely to make up for the time I spent under the thrall of Mars! These wonderful gifts make me feel as if I am finally free of that burden!” she said as tears glistened in her eyes.

Queen Hippolyta held her for a moment and then said, “You have never truly had anything for which you needed to atone. You are my beloved daughter and you are Wonder Woman! No more needs tobe said!”

Nubia said nothing. Her heart was full and she was content to merely stand on her home and let the rays of the sun illuminate this special moment.

The End