Thanks to her Amazon strength and speed, Diana had reorganized the entire house in a matter of minutes. Walking into the foyer, she closed the door behind her and was in her room in an eye blink. Now that the pressing matter removing herself from her friend's home had been taken care of, there was one more matter that Diana was not looking forward to. The matter of the Mask of Proteus, which had been lost in her battle with James' transformed self*. The Amazon needed a way to disguise herself, and quickly switch from 'Diana Prince' to 'Wonder Woman'.

*(issue 18)

Diana tossed her clothes aside, letting them settle into rumpled heaps upon the floor, until she had shorn all garments except for her Amazon bracelets. She knelt in supplication before her golden lariat, which lay upon the floor in a circle.

<"Lady Aphrodite . . . "> she breathed quietly, her voice humble and benign as she spoke in Classic Greek. <"Please, I beseech you. Grant your daughter this boon and reveal yourself to me, for I have need of your counsel . . . ">

Suddenly, she was bathed in rosy light, the familiar perfumes wafting through her room, permeated the house and driving her senses wild! Music from the choir of the Muses, song to make the clearest of human voices sound like the howling of cats, poured forth from a fold in reality, from which the goddess Aphrodite stepped, plush body youthful despite her unfathomable age, gold-spun hair pouring in abundance from her scalp. A flowing pink gown hung on her body to accentuate her curves, and she greeted her follower with a smile.

<"Greetings, Princess of the Amazons."> Her voice was the sweetest music, more silvery than birdsong and smoother than silk.

<"O Goddess,"> Diana murmured, bowing deeply. Her raven curls brushed her cheeks as she pressed her forehead to the carpet.

<"Rise, faithful daughter. I know what vexes you . . . and I tell you worry not. The Mask of Proteus is beyond your recovery, Diana. It is your punishment, though, that you shall not know why. But the matter of your guise still plagues us . . . Come hither, daughter.">

The Princess of Paradise Island complied, rising from her submissive kneel and walking steadily to her goddess. Aphrodite knelt. Nails that glittered with a divine varnish brushed against Diana's brow.

<"Daughter, when you need to change from Diana Prince to Wonder Woman, simply whirl about, as you Amazons do, to transform into your garb. Ancient magic shall hinder any mortal mind from placing together Wonder Woman and Diana Prince as the same woman, though you shall still be identical. Be warned, though, you need not wear your Bracelets of Loving Submission whilst in your masquerade as Diana Prince, but you shall be without your Amazon powers.">

Diana nodded. <"Thank you, Goddess, for sharing your divine wisdom with me."> Aphrodite smiled, and Diana thought she could see a hint of sadness marring the love goddess' impeccable beauty, before she faded away into a warm, golden light.

"I have it," an angry, hissing voice told the man. A long, writhing tail twitched, splashing the small man with a fine spray. "I hate the water . . . "

A golden blur shot from the tall, feral woman's hands, and her accomplice caught it with practiced ease in his tiny hands.

"Very good, Lady Deborah. 'Dis will help you immeasurably."

"Enough babble, Chuma. Just give me the details of your plan, and how I can get back at Wonder Woman!"

Chuma's wrinkled face arched up into a devilish grin as he ran his gnarled fingers across the unblemished golden surface of the Mask of Proteus.

Diana leaned against the railing to her deck, looking outward across her garden. A butterfly fluttered over her roses, its vibrant winds carrying it in its ungainly, get somehow graceful flight. Lazily the Amazon traced her fingernail across the wood. She was bored. Callista and James were working and Ororo was out with other friends. Diana looked up, towards the neighbor's house. For some reason, she felt drawn to it, like there was something in there.

"I think it's time to introduce myself," Diana thought aloud, walking swiftly towards the front of the house. Carefully she pressed a slim finger to the doorbell. Her keen hearing detected the musical sound echoing throughout the home, and several thumps preceded the arrival of the homeowner.

The door swung open to reveal a slim, beautiful girl with blowing reddish hair pulled away from a sharp, tanned face. Her eyes were a glinting emerald green, and she wore exercise shorts and a damp tank top. She was panting, her mouth slightly open, and a thin layer of sweat shone on her smooth skin.

"Hello?"

"Hi . . . I'm Diana Prince. I just moved in next-door last week. Just thought I'd introduce myself," Diana said, holding out her hand. The woman accepted it.

"Name's Rebecca . . . Pleased to meet you," she said. "Sorry about my icky-ness . . . I've been exercising. And also sorry for not coming by earlier . . . I have some ice cream from the place up the block I was gonna give as a welcoming present, but I was kinda tied up at the moment. Work, y'know? I'm a singer."

"Ahhh . . . Well . . . I don't really have a job right now. I'm living off my inheritance . . . " Diana began to play along with the story that she, along with Callista and her comrade in the JLA, Batman, had created for her. "I'm planning to start working at a museum or something nearby . . . I'm into history."

Rebecca raised a flame colored eyebrow. "Sounds cool . . . "

The television sounded from within Rebecca's home, echoing easily into Diana's keen ears. " . . . I implore the women of the United States of America to rise up against the patriarchal tyranny that subjects you all! I say we rally against our oppressors; the men whose primitive violence and chauvinistic ideals weaken the very foundation of this Nation. The Constitution of this country says all men are created equal . . . But it says nothing about women . . . because we are not equal to men. We are superior to them! I . . . "

Diana recognized the voice instantly. Suffering Sappho! 'Tis Artemis! She did not return to Paradise Island?

"Where is that being filmed from?" Diana asked, jabbing her finger towards the flashing television.

Turning, Rebecca glanced at her television. "Oh . . . It's that Artemis woman again . . . She just appeared on the scene all of the sudden. She claims she's an Amazon, just like Wonder Woman . . . go figure. It looks like she's at the mall."

"Speaking of going . . . " Diana replied. "I'm afraid I have to leave. It was nice to meet you, Rebecca. I'll come to collect on that ice cream later!"

The Amazon winked and turned, back to her house. Rebecca waved, before vanishing into her own abode. Diana arrived in her foyer and locked the door behind her.

"Aphrodite, please let this work." She held out her arms to her sides, twisted slightly to the left, before launching herself into a high-velocity spin. A soft orange glow, like the first rays of the rising sun, bathed her body, and when it cleared, her denim skirt and bright green top had vanished, replaced by her famous patriotic armor. Wonder Woman felt Amazon strength surge through her limbs as her perceptions exploded.

"That was easy," Diana thought aloud. "Good old magic!"

Wonder Woman flew up the stairs and launched herself through the skylight, a brilliant blur too quick for the mortal eye to follow.

"Has the United States ever had a woman as their president?" Artemis asked, the crowd, composed of women of all ages, roaring a negative response. "What of Vice-President?!"

"No!"

"Are women capable of leading this country?!" Artemis asked, shaking her fists at the crowd.

"Yes!"

Artemis grinned, a feral, dangerous smile, and continued. "Then I say that the next ruler of this nation shall be a woman! Our cunning and charm, our peaceful ways shall cement America's position as the strongest political power in the world! Remember Queen Elizabeth? Joan of Arc? Cleopatra? Abigail Adams? Women just like you, who helped changed the face of the world!"

"Artemis!"

A star-spangled blur caught the incensed Amazon around the waste, carrying her off the stage at the center of the mall. A blast of wind battered at the crowds, and almost quicker than the absence of their Amazonian speaker could register in their shocked minds, Artemis was atop the roof of the mall, beside a skylight looking onto the crowds below.

<"Were you released from Transformation Island or did you release yourself?">* Diana asked, shaking her head in exasperation. <"You are twisting the minds of these women and girls! The Amazons learned long ago that men and women are equal; neither is superior nor inferior to the other. We rule at each other's sides, combining our own unique perspectives, opinions, and abilities.">

*(Translated from Themysciran)

The Champion of Bana-Mighdall matched glares with the Princess of Themyscira, before turning away. Her myriad of beaded braids clinked against one another as she tossed her head like a haughty lioness.

<"You and your ideals . . . "> Artemis replied, vivid green eyes regarding Diana with a look akin to pity. <"You cannot seem to accept that man cannot rule beside woman. Men are too stubborn to see our reason, too obsessed with war and conquest to learn the way of peace. Fathers bend their children to their wills, transforming them into who they want them to be! Mothers nurture and protect their children, encouraging them to be who they are, to focus on their special talents and abilities, not the ones they wish they could possess.">

<"Artemis, you cannot over-generalize like this!"> Diana replied. <"This may have been true in ancient times, but not now. It has been over two thousand years since you saw the outside world. Things have changed.">

<"Poor, naïve Diana,"> Artemis responded. <"What would you know of men? You may as well have lived your entire life on Paradise Island, how your mother kept you so hidden!">

<"I may be naïve at times,"> Wonder Woman admitted. <"But naiveté can be an advantage; it allows one to go into a situation without bias and preconceived notions.">

Artemis spun on her heel, sandals brushing across the pavement as she stalked away. <"Womankind needs a warrior to represent her.">

<"Humanity needs a peacemaker to save it,"> Diana replied. Artemis' emerald eyes flashed over her shoulder, before the warrior continued on her way.

<"You will not dissuade me, Your Highness,"> Artemis replied. <"My reeducation at the hands of your sisters has somewhat smoothed the rough waters between our tribes, but we hold our tenants in as high regard as the Themyscirans do yours. I will not stray from mine.">

"Oh Jesus . . . " he muttered. Suddenly, the ship lurched violently, and Brad was forced to grab the rail, fingers groping the smooth metal to avoid being pitched over board. Slowly, carefully, several tons of steel was pushed further up onto the beach. Another jerk sent Brad toppling to sprawl, stunned on the deck.

"What the hell?" another sailor murmured beside him.

When Brad had recuperated, he sprinted to the railing once more, to see that they were now several yards away from the ocean's edge. A large rock somewhat stayed the steady flow of oil onto the sands.

"Hey, Joe," he shouted to the worker next to him. "Any idea what . . . Joe?"

There was a strange gurgling sound, and Brad looked down to see several dots of crimson across his white shirt. He glanced up, catching a glimpse of orange colored fur and a flash of raging amber eyes, before a soft Stygian oblivion wrapped around his consciousness.

"Mom! Hi!" Donna greeted enthusiastically as she lifted the phone from the cradle. "How are ya?"

Donna and her brother had both moved far away after college; Donna south to Georgia and Brad to Seattle, giving both siblings little time to see their mother and making calls like this all the more special. Her mother's voice crackled across the line with the usual pleasantries, asking about Donna's work, love life, and so on. But the martial artist recognized the tone of voice her mother used when she was about to tell her something serious, solemn severity forming a thin, wavering veil over hysterical tears.

"Mom? What's wrong?" Donna asked, smooth forehead crinkling in concern. Her eyes widened in shock as her mother responded, the choking sounds easily audible over the phone. "Brad? Oh my God . . . oh God . . . Yeah, Mom, calm down. I'll be out there as soon as I can, ok? You just wait . . . Yes, I'll be careful. Bye . . . "

Mentally calculating how much money a plane ride to St. Louis would cost and who could watch the store, Donna rushed to pack, glistening tears trickling down her smooth cheeks.