Nothing was the same for Wonder Woman after that. But then, when is any day the same as the day before? Friends and enemies and the somethings-in-between were sorted out. At least for the moment.
That morning, there were thousands of comments on Harley’s HQTV site about Wonder Woman and the team. Lois Lane had written an extensive article for Super News and the Daily Planet. But what Wonder Woman was most interested in was an email she had received.
Dear Wondy,
I am so proud of you. You followed your dream and competed with your heart as the whole world watched. The fact that you helped lead your team to victory was the icing on the cake.
I loved meeting you. I’ll never be a super hero, but I am dedicated to following my dream and being the best person and musician I can be. I am honored to be your friend.
Love,
Mandy “Virtuoso” Bowin
When Wonder Woman walked into the dining hall for breakfast, everyone stood and applauded. Well, not everyone. Golden Glider had been expelled. And unlike Virtuoso, who had yelled, “I’ll be back!” Golden Glider silently skated away from Super Hero High and toward CAD Academy.
As the applause reached a crescendo, Wonder Woman waved and then called her teammates to her, and together they stood tall—until Beast Boy transformed into a unicorn and began running around the room. On that day, he wasn’t reprimanded.
“Wondy!” Hawkgirl said, embracing her. “My abuela was so thrilled that she was able to see me compete in the Super Triathlon! She said it was the highlight of her life.”
Both girls jumped up and down before Hawkgirl composed herself. Wonder Woman kept leaping up and down, though, thrilled to have helped make that possible for her friend.
“Wonder Woman! A word with you, please.”
It was Principal Waller.
“Yes?” Wonder Woman said brightly.
Waller cleared her throat. “How’s your leg?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.
“My leg? It’s fine, why?” Wonder Woman asked.
“Because you were too injured to compete yesterday, and Hawkgirl had to go in to replace you?” The Wall reminded her.
Wonder Woman could feel herself turning red. “Am I in trouble?” she asked.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Principal Waller told her.
After The Wall left, Wonder Woman stood in the middle of the dining hall. She was surrounded by Supers but felt all alone. At one table were Katana, Hawkgirl, Poison Ivy, and Bumblebee, all laughing together. At another table, Green Lantern, Cyborg, The Flash, and the Riddler egged Beast Boy on to change into a chicken. Over to the left, Cheetah and Frost had their heads together, whispering while Star Sapphire filed her nails. Harley was videotaping it all.
Wonder Woman loved these people. Super Hero High was home.
The monthly assembly was sure to be boisterous. After all, Super Hero High had brought home the trophy for the one hundredth Super Triathlon. As Principal Waller spoke, the teachers sat behind her on their thrones, glowing as if they each were the winner themselves. And in part, they were. The students in the audience were just as excited. To go to a school that made history was something to be proud of.
“Thank you, Team Super Hero High!” Principal Waller said as the team returned to their seats. “And now I have another announcement. This month’s Hero of the Month.”
It took a while for everyone, teachers included, to calm down. Principal Waller waited. What she had to say next could not be rushed.
“Super Hero High’s next Hero of the Month is…”
Wonder Woman looked around. Who could it be? Not her. Not after Waller had discovered she’d faked her injury.
“WONDER WOMAN!” Principal Waller announced.
Huh?
“Wonder Woman, please come back onstage and join me.”
Bumblebee pushed her toward the stage as everyone cheered. “Go!” she whispered.
What?
Wonder Woman stood stunned as she listened to Principal Waller. “This month’s Super Hero has brought pride and dedication to our school. She has proved herself to be a leader, and, even more rare, a selfless one. Putting others before herself. She is not here for personal glory, but for the greater good, and to shine the spotlight on others. That is what a true leader does.” Wonder Woman thought she saw the principal wink at her.
As the video played, Wonder Woman choked back tears. Her fellow students and teachers all talked about how much they admired her. Even Cheetah said, “I don’t want to like her, but sometimes I think I do. Wait! Did I just say that?”
When the lights came back on, Principal Waller continued. “And now, Wonder Woman, as your first assignment as Hero of the Month, you will be showing our newest Super Hero High student around the school. Oh! Here she comes now!”
The entire auditorium, including Wonder Woman, looked to the back of the room. A girl with long blond hair, a battered suitcase, and a huge smile was flying toward the stage. But instead of stopping, she mowed down several teachers before crashing into the wall and falling face-first on the ground.
Undeterred, she jumped up and smoothed the front of her red skirt, dusted some dirt off her short cape—a short cape! what a genius idea—and then ran over to Wonder Woman, tripping twice, but jumping up each time as if nothing had happened. Her eyes bright, she held out her hand.
“I am a huge, huge, huge fan!” the girl gushed. “I am sooooo excited to meet you, Wonder Woman. I hope we can be friends! Can we? Please say yes!”
“Yes, of course,” Wonder Woman said, smiling. “And what is your name?”
“Oh, oops!” The girl’s blue eyes sparkled as she laughed. “Of course I should introduce myself…my name is Supergirl!”
To be continued….