The Princess had now been home on Paradise Island for over a week and she was well aware that the time had arrived for her and the Queen to speak again concerning the matter of her return to the States.

When Diana awoke that morning she decided that she would go for an early walk and clear her head before going to see her mother. Maybe there was some other approach that she could take to help convince the Queen of the necessity of not only returning, but doing so once again as Wonder Woman.

The day was already very warm and Diana paused under the shade of the same tree she had hidden behind on her first day back. Looking over the expanse of water before her she felt the calming effect that being here on the island had always had upon her. And with all that had gone on since her arrival, it was much needed. If only the cool breezes that swept by her now could take away the events of the past days. And with that thought she wondered if she meant even erasing the fact that she had come to begin with.

No, she couldn't go that far. This was all apart of who she was and she never wanted to lose it. This experience would just make her stronger, she decided. After all, Hera had her reasons for allowing things to happen...

Maybe this was a test.

She walked on further, finally reaching the spot she had landed the invisible jet. She stopped dead in her tracks. It was not there!

Diana looked around her as if searching for some reason why it would possibly be elsewhere.

Why would it be moved and where? This spot was used because it offered the only clearing on the entire island large enough to land and take off from.

Was this her mother's doing? Had she been afraid that Diana might try and take off? No, the Queen must know that she would never do anything like that. But there was no other explanation.

Diana hurried back to the palace. Ona informed her that the Queen was in her chambers.

Without knocking, she went in to find her mother sitting on the edge of her bed looking out her window. Her back was to Diana and she didn't turn to see who had just entered.

When she spoke it was hardly audible.

"I suppose you know that your sister has left?" the Queen asked sadly.

Diana was shocked.

"Drusilla has left?" she asked.

Her mother spun around to look at Diana, her statement surprised and confused.

"Diana, I thought it was you... I thought you had left. When I felt the invisible plane leave the island, I assumed that you had decided to go back. Drusilla? Why would she leave? Where is Ona? Tell her I wish to see her."

The Queen slumped back onto the pillows on her bed. When Diana and Ona returned, she looked deathly sick.

"Mother, are you alright? Should we send for... ?"

Ignoring her daughter's questions, she looked at Ona and spoke over Diana.

"Ona, have you seen Drusilla this morning?"

"No, my Queen. I haven't seen her since yesterday evening. Why?" She looked hopefully to Diana.

Diana answered, " Drusilla might have taken off with the invisible jet. We are not sure."

Ona was obviously shocked by this news. "Why would she do such a thing?"

Taking a moment to think, Ona continued: "But since the plane is missing, she is the logical suspect. She is the only other Amazon to have ever used it."

What Ona said made sense and it was the very thing that made Diana suspect that it was Drusilla. It was clear though that Queen Hippolyte was having a hard time accepting the possibility.

She said, "I don't understand. Why would Drusilla leave?"

And something clicked in Diana's mind. She remembered what Drusilla had said about there having to be a way for Diana to return as Wonder Woman. Diana hadn't understood what she had meant. And the look on her face when she had said it had made Diana uneasy at the time. Could Dru have done this for her sake, knowing that the Queen would more than likely send Diana to look for her as Wonder Woman?

With much effort, the Queen stood. Her face was drawn and worried.

"We need to make a thorough search of the island. Ask around among the others as to the last time she was seen. There is the possibility she is still here and there is some other explanation, but... I have a very bad feeling, Diana..."

Her words were like a plea. She reached out for Diana's hand and at the same time her emotional support.

All Diana could say was, "Don't worry, mother. We'll find her."

Hours passed and darkness fell no doubt making the search harder. Diana remained at the Queen's side and they both waited in silence for news of some kind. Neither had noticed that the room had been completely swallowed in shadow.

Diana's hand was resting on her mother's arm when all of a sudden the Queen flinched.

Diana jumped up. "Mother, what is it?"

She couldn't see her face, but heard her softly say, "The plane has returned..."

It wasn't very long afterward that the door opened, flooding the room with light. Ona stood in the doorway, her statement not very encouraging.

"As you are probably well aware, my Queen, the invisible jet has returned to the island, but..."

Diana already knew the rest.

"Drusilla is still nowhere to be found."