Being the best hero she can be

Diana sat in her plane seat, nervous despite herself. She stared at the display on the back of the seat in front of her, impatiently waiting until she was back home. Her cheeks were warm, and she couldn't help replaying the events of that day in her head.

It had started, well, technically it had all started centuries ago. Olympus fell to Ares, artefacts of the gods were lost. Decades ago Diana had decided she wanted to find what she could, what little there was left in the world beyond Themyscira.

Then, a mere week ago, the rumour had reached her. An earthquake in Greece had cracked the land, a cave in a mountainside was revealed. Some of those that went to explore didn't return, others only glimpsed the interior of the cave and hurried back with stories of stone statues and weapons, swords, spears, shields...

The story said the Aegis was in that cave, Athena's shield upon which was mounted the head of a Gorgon. An armoury of the gods perhaps, countless weapons concealed to wait out the years. Themyscira told tales of such things.

It also told of the Aegis. When Medusa had been slain, her head had been taken by the goddess Athena and fixed to her shield to both terrify her enemies and signify her strength. It still possessed some of its powers, though supposedly it did not turn all that beheld it to stone. And, so Diana had learned growing up, it had learned from Athena herself, it had grown to be as wise as the goddess who bored it.

Some said it spoke with Athena's voice. If it was truly the Aegis, Diana knew she had to find it, keep it safe.

She shifted uncomfortably in her airplane seat, flushing.

So of course she'd gone to Greece a couple of days ago, trekked to the villager, then despite their warnings ascended the mountain path. The cave itself had been easy enough to find; it had seemed to call out to her. She'd walked within, passed the weapons, past the statues of those unlucky enough to push too deep, and stopped near an altar.

Upon it was a perfect golden shield. A gorgon's head, not decayed at all over the centuries, looked back at her with unblinking eyes. Snake-hair stamped gold stretched out around it, tassels pushing past the edge of the shield.

"Aegis," Diana said, breathless.

She dropped to one knee, on instinct.

"Well-met, daughter of Zeus," the shield spoke.

Diana looked up. It was a woman's voice, perhaps indeed Athena's own, coming through the shield's mouth. After a moment, Diana stood up.

"I did not think there was much of Olympus left in this world," Diana said. "I could take you to Themyscira, if you wish it?"

"No, no," the shield said. "I have waited here many centuries, I have almost grown used to it. A new home would be unwelcome. But for your kindness, I will offer you a boon many have sought."

"Yes?" Diana said.

"My wisdom," the shield said. "One question, and I will answer it as Athena would have. You may be sure that my response is genuine and true."

Diana's eyes widened. This was... more of a chance than she'd ever imagined.

Just one question, perhaps, but to hear the advice of a goddess? She could ask after any more relics of Olympus, or hear the truth of her past, or find out what her origins truly meant, or...

No. Diana took a deep breath; as intrigued as she was, she couldn't spend this opportunity on her own idle curiosity. She was Wonder Woman after all, she was a hero. She took a moment to formulate her words, speaking slowly.

"How might I better serve as a hero to the world?" Diana said. "What can I do to bring the most joy, to inspire people the most?"

She hesitated, watching the Aegis. It closed its eyes for a moment, before opening them, regarding her; she had no fear of being petrified by it. It seemed to trust her, perhaps even respect her. A small, proud smile played at the goddess-worn shield's lips.

"Be naked," the Aegis said.

There was a pause. Diana blinked.

"Sorry, what?" she said.

"The sight of you would bring joy to all," the Aegis said, as though it were recounting some epic poem. "Word of you would travel far and wide, men and women alike praising you, and your message would travel as far as your image. They will tell stories, and many wrongdoers would not be able to bring themselves to resist you. Such heroism is within your reach."

Diana paused.

"But... naked?"

"Yes."

"...Completely?"

"You can keep your bracelets," the Aegis said. It paused. "And your tiara. Maybe your boots."

Diana swallowed.

That had been hours before. She squirmed still, waiting to return home. She'd be landing soon, but after that?

She was still a hero. Nothing was obligating her to do... anything new, but could she so easily pass up the only wisdom from the gods she'd likely ever receive in her lifetime? To be clad in only her bracelets, tiara and boots, and hopefully with her sword, shield and lasso, and nothing else? To be seen in just that...

Diana bit her lip. It was a far cry from how she'd imagined being a hero. Then again, could she ignore a suggestion that might as well have come from Athena's lips?