I want to go back to believing everything and knowing nothing at all
John took most of the prisoners of war from the Themyscira in a bubble to safety, Black Knight One demanded to stay and face whatever decision was made and Diana and Donna have led him and the others to the palace away from the pens where the prisoners were kept to make the settings more official and less likely to erupt in violence. One spear thrown at her sisters back was enough for Diana this day...especially since the spear came from the hand of one that should be called sister.
Word came that the Embassy was allowed to re-open in New York. For all that she is the daughter of Hippolyta, Donna is an outsider here in many ways and Diana needed one she trusted to send to the embassy, her people there needed reassurance and Donna was the perfect one to provide it. She hadn't been happy when Diana had asked her to go. She suspected that Donna feared that Diana’s temper might need a leash, and today it may have been true, but Donna's absence would make it easier to calm things down for now.
With a fierce hug, words of encouragement, and promise to have things in better shape than when she left whispered in Diana's ear, she left and Diana and the last remaining prisoner alone with their people. She recognized this man, he was there when they went in to rescue Billy Batson from where he was held prisoner. He had helped them achieve their objective but he was an unknown in the scheme of things. Still he had helped rescue Billy and he had helped her sisters, for that alone she owed him much, no matter what else he was in life this day he was her ally.
She called for a vote. The very fact that someone had come to her for fear of the prisoner's life told her that not everyone was happy with the law and its consequences. Without Artemis there was no one except her who understood the expectations of Man’s World - notably the Geneva Convention. Meda was her most vocal opponent, but she was filled with anger over her lover's death and the fact that she could not be there at her side when she died. Someone had to be made to pay a penalty for that, and she would not admit her own feelings of guilt so she would make Black Knight One pay for her loss if she could.
Her voice carries to everyone gathered there to watch the debate, Diana calls to them to vote on the law to execute any man who sets foot on the soil of Themyscira. There is a pause and shuffle of uncomfortable feet as they listen to her words. They have moved past the heat of battle and though they are still angry it is the anger of loss and not being able to understand what has happened to them and their world.
Slowly one after another arms clad in bracelets are raised over their heads, clicking together lightly as they signify their desire to raise the punishment and change the law. Almost all of the women there have their arms raised in the sunlight until it looks like a forest of metal and flesh has sprung up surrounding them.
The law is no more. There will be no executions here today.
The feeling of relief does not last long, Meda steps forward to call her own vote as any citizen of Themyscira may do. She tells then that they have tried to bring their message to the world, they have given healing and help and been attacked at every turn, she called for her sisters to vote to return Themyscira to the protection of the mists that used to surround it before the Gods themselves had warred across the world.
That someone would even suggest it stunned Diana, and the face that while many of her sisters couldn't face her while they did it, their arms were raised in nearly as many numbers as before. She can’t help but think about what her mother’s reaction to all this fear would be - more heartache, or more anger? Would she be disappointed and with whom?
"You have a choice, Champion of Athena and daughter of Hippolyta. You may stay here with us to never leave again, or you may return to the world outside."
“What of my sister who went to our embassy?”
“We will not need the embassy. As for Donna, she was born to that world and claims to have developed a family there. There is a feeling among many here that the offer of the choice would be wasted on her.”
You cannot do your work behind walls built of fear my champion. Athena's voice was soft but insistent in her ear. You are no longer able to live here in seclusion, you would fade away over time from unhappiness
"You ask me to tear my heart from my chest and split it in two." Diana speaks to both Meda and Athena with her head bowed. "But there is no choice; I cannot do what I must from hiding." Raising her face to Meda she turns a look of pity on the woman.
"When I find Artemis, and the others, I will return them to you if they wish to come. But for the rest of eternity you will hide yourself in fear and become less for it. May Athena grant you wisdom to learn what you have done this day, Meda." Ignoring the other woman's snort of derision Diana holds her hand out to Black Knight One.
"I will take you to safety before the magics take them from this plane to their place behind the mists of Chaos." She touched her communicator. "Two to beam to the Watchtower. Visitor levels please."
I am proud of you my champion...
The island that was her home dissolves in the teleport effect and is left behind Diana, perhaps for forever. The familiar view of earth from the Watchtower is not much of a comfort now; no longer could she look down and see her home from above.
"It would be helpful to me if you could tell someone what you did for my sisters on the island." She isn't saying that he is being held, but Black Knight One may notice she's not offering him transport anywhere just yet. "It would be helpful to hear events from your point of view for the investigation."
Leaving everyone behind, Diana does not hear questions about her well being, or declarations of being happy to see her. She makes her way to the teleporter and returns to Earth. She knows where John lives, she doesn't go straight there because she is wearing armor and is fresh from battle and healing the wounded, but the thought did cross her mind. Instead she waits where she can see when he returns, letting the sounds of Man's World, her world, wash over her while she mourns what she has lost.