A New Ability for Wonder Woman

"Oh my God."

Barbara stared. The bodies of the Amazon warriors horrified her; the sight of the isolated island itself was astonishing.

Rainbow light formed a great hand and gathered the fallen warriors. Damon put an arm around Barbara and flew toward the island's center, carrying the bodies with them.

The central buildings seemed largely intact. The damage wasn't as extensive as he had expected.

When they landed, Hippolyta, Diana, and Artemis came to meet them. He hadn't seen Artemis in a long time. Guards took charge of the bodies. After introducing Barbara, Damon asked what had happened.

Themyscira's losses were smaller than he had feared. Hippolyta had long prepared for Steppenwolf's arrival, and Artemis, the new goddess of strife, had grown considerably stronger over the years. Even so, they had underestimated him. Once Hippolyta realized they couldn't stop him, she ordered her warriors to stand down and let him take the Mother Box rather than suffer further losses.

"What now? He has two Mother Boxes. If he gets the one the humans have, we're in trouble," Diana said seriously.

Damon shook his head. "Not really. He could get all three and still need a chance to use them before he could turn Earth into a dead world."

She nodded. "Then let's head back and work out a plan. I have something for you, too."

"Sounds good." He beamed.

Hippolyta and Artemis wanted him to stay longer. It was his first visit in years. But this wasn't the time for a leisurely reunion. After a little more conversation, he left with Diana and Barbara.

They returned to Amnesty Bay first, leaving Barbara with Batman and the others. Then Damon and Diana flew to her home in the human world.

Paris.

A two-story apartment.

He looked around with interest. There was none of the pink decor he had seen in other women's apartments. The furnishings were elegant, restrained, and dignified. Downstairs held the living room, dining room, kitchen, and a workspace. The bedroom and collection room were upstairs. Diana told him to look around while she fetched something. She soon returned with a Black Lantern ring.

"Ares came back as a Black Lantern. I took this after I defeated him. It's dangerous. I thought you'd be the best person to deal with it." She handed him the ring.

He examined it. It was no different from Talia's.

He squeezed it between his fingers.

Crack.

The ring crumbled into powder.

Diana stared. She had tried to destroy it herself and failed. He had crushed it with his bare fingers.

He dusted his hands and smiled at her.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere changed. Diana turned her head slightly. "I... should shower."

"Why? We can shower together afterward." Grinning, he scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs.

Bang!

He kicked the bedroom door open and tossed her onto the bed. Before she could sit up, he was over her, stripping away her armor until only her thigh-high boots remained.

Kisses. Caresses.

Soon her voice filled the room. They traded places, neither willing to yield, until at last she seemed to surrender. Her boots were raised above her head, her legs trembling, her back arched almost to its limit.

Much later...

The boots lay on the floor. Diana's long, bare body rested against him as she enjoyed the slow movement of his hand over her skin.

"I have something for you." He patted her waist and got up. Curious, she eased herself against the headboard.

A breach opened. He stepped through and returned almost immediately.

Now he held a sword.

"What's that?" she asked. Damon smiled. "Wonder Woman's sword. Not yours. The one from Earth-2."

"I was going to keep it in my collection. It's made with Apokoliptian technology and can open Boom Tubes, like a Mother Box. I'm not sure how it compares to your Sword of Hephaestus in a fight, but yours certainly can't do that. This should make getting around much easier."

"The Earth-2 version of me?"

"Not exactly your counterpart. She calls herself Wonder Woman, but she's a New God. Her name isn't Diana, either."

Diana looked at the sword. If he had taken it, what had happened to its owner?

"She's alive," he said, seeming to read the question on her face. He handed it over. Diana tried it and quickly looked delighted. Its quality was at least equal to her Sword of Hephaestus, perhaps better.

"It's wonderful. Thank you!"

She put the sword aside and turned back to him.

He wrapped his arms around her, grinning. "That's all the thanks I get?"

"How else am I supposed to thank you?"

"With your mouth?" He leaned close and whispered in her ear. Diana flushed and shook her head, embarrassed and annoyed. He didn't become angry. He coaxed her quietly for a while, until at last she gave a reluctant nod and slowly sank to her knees.

The night stretched ahead, and Damon had energy to spare.

Sounds carried from the bedroom almost until morning.

The sky paled. Sunlight began to spread.

He didn't know how long he'd slept. When he opened his eyes, Diana stirred beside him. Their gazes met. She was striking in the morning light. Smiling, he leaned down to kiss her, only for her to push him away.

"What?" he asked, startled.

She gave him a knowing smile. "I haven't brushed my teeth. You really want to?"

"Uh..." His smile turned sheepish. He stayed where he was.