Understanding Priorities

You were again dressed from the waist down, as the queen decreed. She had more chores for you to complete, intending to work you to the bone, it seemed to you. As you worked with polishing horse saddles, armor, and weapons, you wondered crossly if Athena really knew what she was doing. 'Appease to the queen,' she said.

You didn't need a goddess telling you what you already knew to do.

'Maybe she knew more than she let on...' you thought. While you were putting the finishing touches on the spears and shields, an amazon came running towards you.

"Shadow," she panted as she came upon you. "Your communications device is alerting you." She handed your communicator to you, and you graciously accepted it.

"Hello?"

"Shadow, I have contacted you several times since yesterday." You recognized the calm, rational voice of the Martian. And you felt a bit of guilt welling up in your chest.

"Sorry, J'onn. My attention was elsewhere, along with my presence. What's happening?" He then informed you that a major fire was happening near you, and people were trapped in the building! "Firemen are doing their best to contain it, but they need help. I'm contacting Diana to assist you." For some reason, that didn't seem like a good idea, but this wasn't the time to let your past actions interfere with your hero's duties.

"Understood. I'll be there when I can."

You run to the palace, run into the throne room past the double doors, and found her highness sitting on her throne. "Your majesty. My team needs my help in facing a fire." But Hippolyta seemed stolid.

"Diana can face the danger herself. You are to remain here." Hearing her actually say that annoyed you, for you were needed!

You had to prioritize.

"Please, your highness. My team alerted me because I was closer. And your daughter too."

She still refused. "Your sentence has not been fulfilled, and you're trying my patience; I won't allow it." She was convinced that Diana could handle the task without you, but you weren't going to stand idly by while innocents got hurt. You chose to take a stand...

"Queen Hippolyta, I made a mistake." You grip your fists tightly. "And I wish to make amends, but I'm a hero. I'm human..."

"Shadow, I said--" But you interrupt her.

"I know I have much to answer when I come back. But I need to do what's right." After bowing before her, you run off.

"Stop!" But you decided to push yourself to ignore her, your feet pounding against the ground as if your life depended on it. You run to the coast, and found a nearby rowboat big enough for only two people to sit in. With an oar in each hand, you pull away from the bank and row out to sea.

'I'm on my way,' you think to yourself.