Wonder Woman: The Harpies of Themyscira

It was a sunny day at the Halls of Justice. The skies were clear, its park and fountain front filled with joggers making their rounds and families having picnics under the trees. Even with the crowd of photographers and news groups gathered at the front doors did nothing to ruin the scene, the day was perfect for the occasion at hand. Seeing two vehicles drive into the roundabout in front of the Hall, the camera crew moved aside for the pair of limousines pulling up to the front of the entrance bearing miniature flags of the island nation of Themyscira on either side of their hoods.

Inside the halls, glass and steel displays lined the vast interior like a museum; each display showing deeds the League had accomplished or enemies long defeated, their equipment professionally maintained and catalogued. The walls were covered in paintings, photographs, plaques, and murals of the Justice League’s history together, their rewards, their losses, and family they gained and lost. Decades of history laid out for all to see to anyone welcome to ask. At the heart of the Hall’s complex, a banquette table was set up for anyone hungry and entertainment in the form of a small band were playing in the background while the Justice League were dressed formally for their guest’s arrival.

Superman was dressed in formal robes from his native Krypton, speaking with J’onn J’onzz who had also taken a more dressed down appearance with his clothes. His dark blue cape embroidered and enveloping him like robes of his own. With her arm looped around her husband’s, Lois Lane smiled up to the two, wearing a stylish business dress as she held a small dish filled with finger food, and eliciting a giggle when she noticed J’onn eye the chocolate cookie on her tray. Nearby Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow shared a joke with his wife and friends Dinah Lance the Black Canary, along with Mari McCabe the Vixen, and Barry Allen the Flash. The four of them sharply dressed themselves as they waited for the guests of honor to arrive.

Flitting about on her own, Barbara Gordon took snapshots of the gathering heroes, waiting for their gusts to arrive while they conversed. Stopping by the foot table, Barbara went to refill her camera when she felt a presence loom behind her. Turning her head, she smiled to find the Dark Knight standing with a small tray of food in hand.

"Oh, hello Batman, thank you for inviting me here, I've always wanted to meet the Amazons." Smiled the young woman to the usually taciturn man in the cowl. That is until he gave an uncharacteristic smirk.

"Hey Babs, you tried the pigs in blankets yet over der? Some genius put cheddah in'em." Pointed the Dark Knight out of character to the other side of the food display at the table. Blinking up in surprise, the red-haired woman nearly guffawed.

"Boston?!" Seeing the man smile… Probably the first she ever saw him do that, she recognised the mannerisms and Brooklyn accent of the former trapeze artist turned ghost using her friend’s body to interact with the party around them.

"Yup, ol Bats let me borrow his body fer the occasion, so long as I don't do nuthin stupid with'it."

"Oooh, stay right here!" Barbara asked, wringing her hands together and bending at the knees to reach under the silk cloth of the table to pull out her personal belongings and bring out her personal phone. The moment she turned on the screen to its camera setting, she pressed up shoulder to shoulder with Batman and made a peace sign with her free hand, wink and stick her tongue out. With Boston playing along and doing the same as she took the picture.

“Oh HO! This is going up as the background on my computer for a MONTH.” The woman smirked, saving the picture for later.

Eating a pig in a blanket from his plate, Boston grinned from behind the cowl. "You know the moment he sees that photo; Bruce won't let me do this ever again, right?"

"Pffff, worth it."

Seeing the doors to the hall open, everyone turned their attention to the procession of amazon warriors marching forward, their polished armor shimmering like mirrors to the lights overhead as did the shields they bore, reflecting the faces of the Justice League off their surfaces when the dozen or so Amazon warriors marched into a double file and stamped their ceremonial spears to the tiled floor to announce their halt, the sound of it like the rumble of thunder that echoed across the entire building. Between the two lines of guards, Hippolyta with her daughter in hand made their way inside. The two were dressed regally with robes of fine, embroidered linen and dyed red and white.

Nodding to his wife and to J’onn, Superman made his way to the center of the hall and bowed at the waist to greet the Themysciran Queen and Diana. When he stood back to his full height, he was greeted with a warm smile from his friend and an ambivalent look from her mother. The woman wore the hide and skull of a male lion over her shoulder like a pauldron where the rest of the fur draped down her back, highlighted with her polished bracelets, crown and necklace.

“I am Kal’el of Krypton, I am also known as Superman of Earth. Welcome to the Halls of Justice your Highness, I hope this will be a very cordial and informative meeting of our two peoples as you prepare to join the United Nations. Please with your grace and permission issued by the gods themselves in their infinite wisdom, join us for meal and conversation.”

Seeing Diana hide a light smile at how well Clark recited the Amazonian welcome to her mother, Wonder Woman turned her attention to the Queen of Amazons, her mother lifting her chin slightly and stared down at the man of steel with an unreadable gaze.

“Indeed… My daughter speaks HIGHLY of you and your ‘Justice League’, we shall be attending the United Nations for the official signing of our peace treaty and choosing of a diplomat for their attendance, until then… I accept your invitation.”

Looking over her shoulder, the Queen introduced several of her court who stepped forward to be seen. Each wore ceremonial robes and armor, and each of them looked hardened and stern as they chose to address Superman but did not return his smile or nod of greeting.

“These are my two generals at arms, Ocypete and Aello.” Hippolyta gestured to the two women who looked to Clark coldly. “Since we are to have more… Amicable relations with the outside world of our native shores, they have come with me to assess the nations of man.”

Bowing again, Superman smiled back to the two women. “Welcome, I hope we can talk in length about…”

“Spare us the scripted exchange…” Scoffed Ocypete, barely holding back a frown.

Aello bristled at the sight of him as she too added in her opinion. “Indeed, we are NOT here for you. Our businesses here is anything that could threaten Themyscira!”

Trading looks with Diana who made an apologetic face to Clark, Superman slowly nodded and extended his hand out to the rest of the hall. “Then please, let us show you who we are.”

Spreading out to meet with the rest of the heroes of the Halls of Justice, the Amazons completely brushed Clark’s invitation and left him standing there with a face of concern, just as Lois looped her arm around his from behind, tracing her fingers through his and patting his hand for emotional support. Seeing Diana fold her hands in front of her, the princess shared a look of understanding to the Man of Steel.

“I don’t think your mother and advisors like me very much…”

“I think you did very well honey.” Lois whispered into his ear, making him smile again as he gently squeezed her hand back.

“You must forgive my mother and her advisors.” Smiled Wonder Woman as she plucked a glass of wine from the table nearby. “This is likely their first visit to Man’s world in centuries.”

“It SHOWS Diana.” Scoffed Lois, sipping from her drink and getting a shush from Clark.

“They are not bad people Lois; we’ve lived in isolation to protect ourselves from the predations of man’s greed and envy for a VERY long time. I’ve tried for years to convince my mother that the world is different now. This first step to joining the U.N. is supposed to help introduce my sisters to a world they’ve all but abandoned.”

“Well, I’m VERY proud of you Diana.” Smiled Superman, looking over to find Batman approaching the trio with a tray of food in hand. “Bruce, I didn’t think you’d show up for this.”

“He ain’t. The rich kid let me borrow his body fer the day, said he wasn’t good in these kinds of things.” The Batman spoke in a thick Brooklyn accent, making Lois snort and try to hold back laughing with the back of her hand. “What?”

“Boston?”

“Yeah, its me, figured I’d ask a LIVE body to inhabit instead of a dead one.” Leaning in to whisper towards Lois, the woman’s cheeks were red trying to hold back laughter at the Dark Knight’s ridiculous behaviour. “Last Party I went to; I started watering the place like a garden sprinkler before my first drink was done!”

Wincing, Lois shook her head and tried and failed to hold back her laughter, alerting some of the guests before turning away. Chuckling at the gallows humour, Superman and Diana smiled back to each other and back to Boston Brand. The man was rarely seen with the League, literally. Being a disembodied spirit had its disadvantages, but he was welcomed like any other hero amongst the League. “Well, its very nice to be able to speak with you more directly Boston.”

“Yes, are you enjoying yourself?” Asked Diana.

Shrugging with a snort, the man raised his plate of food and drink in hand. “Oh pfff, this is GREAT, have ya tried the pigs in a blanket yet? How are you’n Steve doin?”

The sound of a plate breaking on the floor behind them diverted their attention to Oliver and Dinah raising their hands up in surprise as the Amazonian General Ocypete raised her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “YOU DARE TOUCH ME?!”

“I was just…”

The man never had a chance to fully explain when he was punched square between the eyes by the furious amazon. The impact alone was so severe, Oliver was sent reeling back across the hall, crashing through one of the displays and landing spread eagled against the wall where Dinah ran over to him to check if he were still breathing. Storming towards the couple, Ocypete unsheathed her sword to strike again when she felt a hand grab her wrist and prevented her from moving another inch. Snapping her head back to look over her shoulder, she found Superman holding said wrist with such inhuman strength it was as if he were made of diamond.

“That’s enough.”

The glare she gave him was beyond furious, boring into his focussed eyes and gesturing over his own shoulder where Clark could feel several spear tips aimed at his back and neck. Looking behind him, he found the entire Themysciran royal guard were ready for a fight, all led by the other general Aello giving the Man of Steel a searing glare of her own.

“Do not test us male!”

“Aello! Ocypete! You will relent. NOW!”

Breathing in sharply and looking to their princess with disciplined restraint, Aello nearly hissed back through clenched teeth to answer back. “My princess. This animal dared to strike one of your personal guards! He should be executed. BOTH of them!”

“The HELL is wrong with you?!” Yelled Dinah, checking her husband over and making sure he was awake just in case of a concussion. “All he did was try to introduce himself and you nearly killed him!” Hearing Oliver groan, Dinah kept his chin raised to help him breath.

“Your PET overstepped sister. You should do well to train this animal better.”

Stepping between the couple and the Amazon general, Diana stood with her arms outstretched, keeping the focus on her instead of Oliver. “BOTH of you! Stand down! These are my friends; you will not harm them.”

Breathing hard and slowly lowering her fist, Ocypete pulled her arm free of Superman’s grip, the imposing woman looking him over just as she turned her attention back to her Queen. “It was a mistake to have come here your majesty, these barbarians will be the end of us. They cannot be trusted.”

With her hands folded in front of her and looking to the group of heroes, her guards, her daughter and back to her two advisers. The Queen retained her stern expression, her focus on Oliver and Dinah at the far wall where her daughter made sure they were left safe from harm while the rest of the League joined them at the floor and tended to their archer.

“Amazons.” Her guards gave a ‘Hurrah!’ in response as they raised their spears and shields higher, ready for the command to attack. Everyone in the hall looked anxious of what would happen next. “Escort my advisors outside, my daughter and I shall speak with the members of this League. Alone.”

There was a brief second of hesitation before the guards stamped their spears to the floor and guided the two women outside. Before moving, Ocypete narrowed her eyes up at the Man of Steel and whispered low for him to hear.

“If you so much as touch me again, you will lose that hand.”

Guided out, the guards stood ready at the entrance. Once they were alone, the Queen looked over to her daughter tending to Oliver, making sure he was able to stand so he could be moved somewhere more comfortable. Hippolyta slowly approached the Black Canary, her pois never faltering as she looked to the blonde with an idiom of respect.

“You will have to forgive my chief advisor; it has always been in my best interest to have someone of a… Fiery temperament if war were to ever be at our people’s doorsteps.”

Helping Oliver to his feet to guide him to a chair, the Flash snort at the explanation. “Yeah… Fiery’s not the word I’d use to describe that kind of…”

“I was not addressing YOU!” The Queen intoned, her eyes narrowing before she returned her gaze back to the Black Canary. “Your man will be spared my judgement, in the spirit of diplomacy. Be grateful that I chose NOT to see his punishment fulfilled.”

“Spared your…?”

Sharply turning away, Hippolyta made her way out to the exit of the Halls of Justice, leaving Dinah and the others confused. When her highness was finally out of earshot, the remainder of the League looked to Diana with various looks of disbelief and confusion.

“You’re mother’s a piece of work Di.”

“So are her friends.” Barbara frowned, having pulled a first aid kit from the nearby rest room to treat Oliver’s injuries and pulled out smelling salts to help Oliver stay awake. “PLEASE tell me one of them won’t be the new diplomat, she’d likely start a war over ketchup or mustard on her fries.”

“I’m so deeply sorry Dinah, I had hoped my sisters and mother would see this as an opportunity to see just how much the world has changed but change for us takes… BOSTON!”

Having turned her attention to her mother exiting the Halls, she was shocked to find Boston still in Batman’s body approach the Queen. The act instantly having her royal guard surround the man with spears at his neck, and yet his expression was stony, expressionless as the Queen’s attention fell on him. With her chin up and narrowing her eyes at the man wearing a black cape and cowl with the emblem of a bat on her chest, Queen Hippolyta looked contemptuous of the Dark Knight.

“Some words of advice your Highness? Get different advisors, those ones seem more intent on starting a war than preserving the peace of your nation. In case you haven't been reading your daughter's letters home, they just tried to members of a peace keeping that can match the power of a Catagory Five Hurricane on one of their off days.”

“You DARE speak to our Queen in such a disrespectful manner?” Hissed the guard who had her spear tip at his throat. He didn’t even humour making eye contact with the woman, his attention solely on the Amazonian Queen.

“Your Queen dares to start a war with a group that can turn your precious paradise into a crater, nice first impression by the way. What was your next step? the Flash for offering o'dourves?”

“You disgusting male, WE are AMAZONS!” Sneered another guard, pressing her spear tip against his body armor. “WE are the heralds of peace and prosperity, what we do here in your lands is a GIFT!”

Slowly turning his head to look over to the League, he found Lois hiding behind Superman’s cape, Barbara still recording from a safe distance behind the tables and rest of the team tending to the injured Oliver… Along with an embarrassed Wonder Woman left speechless.

“Yes… You can just feel the peace and prosperity you exude, perhaps I should take notes.”

Snorting in disgust, the Queen left without a word, followed by the rest of her guards as they left the Halls of Justice and marched their way back to the motorcade. Still standing and keeping an eye on the guards, he could hear Diana approaching, the woman resting a hand over his shoulder with a look of worry in her eyes.

“Boston, what were you THINKING?!”

Giving the Amazon princess a stern look, Bruce gently pulled her hand away. “Boston gave me back control five minutes ago, about the time Oliver got hit.”

Blinking back in confusion, Diana looked around as if the act would mean she could see him. "Then where did he go?"