Wonder Woman ✧ T'CHALLA¹ [✓]

1 - A New Threat

(opening gif by luckyvirgo)

WHEN DIANA OPENED HER EYES, SHE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT SHE WAS NOT IN HER BED.

Instead, she stood at one end of a grand marble room, with a huge clock in the middle of it. Twelve empty thrones adorned with various decorations circled the clock, and as Diana took a few steps forward she saw symbols engraved onto the head of each throne. She recognized a few of them-and there was certainly no mistaking that golden thunderbolt at the top of the biggest throne. As soon as she saw the symbol she knew exactly where she was.

Olympus, the Home of the Gods.

"See, there she is," a voice said from behind her. "I told you it would work."

Diana turned around to see a god and a goddess standing before her. The goddess she recognized as Athena, the goddess of wisdom, but she didn't recognize the god that was with her, and she instantly adopted a defensive position.

"Calm yourself, Diana," Athena said, raising a hand to calm her. "This is just Morpheus. I asked him to bring you here so I may speak with you."

Diana nodded slowly, relaxing her stance. She remembered from her mother's stories that Morpheus was the god of sleep and dreams, so she asked Athena, "Does that mean I am dreaming?"

Athena nodded. "I felt it would be better if I were to talk to you here rather than for me to come to you."

Diana nodded again. "So what is it that you wish to discuss?"

Athena beckoned for Diana to follow, and the two walked over to the large clock.

"I know you are well aware of the history of your half-brother Ares, correct?" Athena asked.

Diana held back a wince as a fresh wave of memories washed over her. Dipping her head to mask her discomfort, she said, "Yes. But he is no longer a threat."

Athena nodded. "Yes. And we had hoped that the end of Ares meant his influence here would end as well. But it is very much still here, and in a form we did not anticipate."

Diana raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Great Athena?"

"Ares' female counterpart, Eris, has returned." Athena waved her hand over the clock, and it slowly turned into a map of man's world. "And with a vengeance, I might add."

Diana shook her head slightly, trying to understand what was going on. "You mean Eris, the goddess of chaos?"

Athena nodded. "She is outraged over Ares' death, and we have learned that she has plans to finish what he started in his honor."

Diana's eyes widened. "You mean another world war?"

Athena shook her head. "No. She plans for the destruction of all mankind."

Diana couldn't believe it. Minus the Second World War, orchestrated by his sons, Deimos and Phobos, over a century had gone by without any signs of Ares' influence. Diana had hoped that she had seen the last of him, but apparently he still had many more followers out there in the universe.

"So you are asking me to stop Eris?" Diana asked, crossing her arms as she looked at the goddess beside her.

"Indeed, I am." Athena placed her hands on Diana's cheeks, looking at her straight in the eyes. "But I warn you-Eris is much, much darker, more corrupted, and brutal compared to Ares. She is a relentless warrior and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. And she will kill you if she gets the chance. Do not give her that chance. Is that understood?"

Diana dipped her head respectfully. "Yes, Great Athena."

Athena smiled softly. "Wonderful." Turning to the map, she went on, "Now, Hermes has told us that Eris was last spotted in the nation of Wakanda." She pointed to the small nation in the center of Africa. "It is a highly technologically advanced country, even more so than the United States. But, unlike the United States, Wakanda uses their technology to hide in plain sight, and only their people or their machines can get in and out."

"So how will I be getting in?" Diana asked.

Athena smiled again, shaking her head as she put a hand on Diana's shoulder. "Dear child, the Sandals of Hermes can fly you anywhere. Even to Wakanda."

Diana nodded. "Then I will leave at sunrise."

"Very good." Athena nodded once, then gestured to Morpheus. "Morpheus shall take you home."

As Diana started to walk away, Athena called out, "Do not fail, Diana. The fate of man's world-and yours-is at stake."

Diana's eyes widened at the mention of her island home, but before she could reply, Morpheus put his hand on her forehead, and then she shot up out of bed with a gasp. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, Diana ran a hand through her hair before letting it fall into her lap. Then, Athena's voice floated past her ear, as if it were a whisper on the wind.

Eris is coming, Diana. Be strong, be brave. And be a warrior.