Heading to port

Dawn’s light was just coming up over the horizon of Themyscira, its people beginning their morning duties with training, food gathering and repairing the sails to the royal fleet. Testing those sails, the women looked up in pride to see their vessels returned to their rightful glory. Then they heard something they never heard before.

At first, they thought it was a battle horn, but one they never knew could make such a deep and rumbling noise from so far away. Seeing where it came from, the amazons of Themyscira were given sight to something incredible. NEVER had they seen such a vast and majestic vessel in their long lives as it was slowly pulled into port by their princess, hauling it forward by its anchor chains. The ship stood twice the height of the queen’s personal vessel… And seven times as long! Its hull was a polished metal that glinted off the morning sunlight, and like a mirror it cast a false dawn over the city that caught everyone’s attention, especially when it sounded its horn again. They had never seen or heard such a thing. Many of the amazons at the port screamed with smiles on their lips when they heard the horn again when Wonder Woman dropped the anchor and pushed against the hull of the vessel to bring it to a stop at the docks.

Still mesmerised by the sight, the women were given more of a spectacle as retractable harnesses unfolded at the side of the hull facing the docks. Stairs, and elevators were prepped and readied, sending dozens of people down to ground level with aid by the crew.

Hurrying to the dockyards of her kingdom, Hippolyta stood in stunned silence, her guards and people distracted only briefly before bowing in her presence as she drank in the sight of the massive cruise ship taking up half of the pier, with people being ferried out and lead down the docks towards her city. Catching the sight of her daughter fly down to meet her, the Queen was still too surprised to react when her daughter bowed and pulled her in for an embrace.

“Mother, it is done, our sisters have been stopped and the ship saved.” Turning to look back at the crew of the cruise ship hauling injured people up the steps of the port to the city, Diana continued. “They have harmed many, it is our responsibility to help them.”

Steeling herself and looking to her guards who eyed the men warily as they waited several feet away, Hippolyta nodded and gestured to her guards. “Let them through, bring them to the purple ray and see to it they are properly cared to.”

“Yes, my queen.” Stamping their spears to the ground, joining the men in helping the injured and guiding them to the halls of the purple ray to be healed.

With them, entire groups of people wandered up the steps towards the city, just as mesmerised by the sight as the amazons were of the vessel that brought them. Seeing that a large group of families had formed in front of her, Hippolyta had turned her attention back to her daughter who smiled and nodded back to her, as did Phillipus who always stood at her side. Looking out to the crowd, the queen outstretched her arms and spoke up to get their attention.

“I AM QUEEN HIPPOLYTA OF THE AMAZONS, WELCOME TO OUR ISLAND HOME OF THEMYSCIRA. YOU MAY STAY WITH US UNTIL YOUR INJURED ARE TENDED TO AND YOUR… VESSEL RESTORED.”

Feeling woozy, Hippolyta retained the strength to stand but never faltered, she knew then and there her body had changed again, the way the crowd looked upon her, she just never knew the intensity. The men and sailing staff all stood more presentable in her presence, many of them taking their hats off out of respect and lowered their heads and eyes. Even the women were stunned and gave a blush looking down or away to the sight of the queen while the children simply looked up in amazement.

Bravely moving forward with a bad leg and gripping his hat tightly between his fingers, the Captain of the Serendipity kept his head down as he approached the Queen.

“I-I am Captain Jacobs, C-captain of the H… HMS Serendipity. T-thank you for your hospitality a-and…” Going stone stiff when a pair of delicate hands reached out and softly gripped his own, his eyes went wide as those hands slowly made their way up to cup at his face and raise his eyes to meet Hippolyta’s.

“Welcome to our paradise Captain Jacobs.” Soothed Hippolyta, tracing a thumb down the man’s cheek. Locking eyes with the queen, it was all he could see. Blue eyes so sparkling blue that they drew his gaze in and never let go, her skin, flawless and perfect with high cheek bones, pert nose and lips that begged to be kissed. Her hair flowed down like a roiling, ebony waterfall, framing her perfect visage as she spoke again in a honey sweet voice that left the man still stunned by such perfect beauty.

“Be at peace, if you and your people need anything, we will see what we can do.”

Letting the man go and progressing down the steps to see the rest of the crew and passengers heading up for safety and healing, the captain stayed motionless until he felt a hand rest at his shoulder and looked up to see Diana’s smiling face look back at him.

“Was… Was that an angel?”

Bringing a hand up to cover her smile and hide a small laugh, Diana answered.

“THAT was my mother.”

Following the queen down to the port where the Serendipity was docked, she found her mother paused before a member of the crowd that sat hunched, injured, and surrounded by people who each rested a hand on her feathered shoulders.

“Artemis.” The queen spoke sternly, her smile gone as she looked down at the harpy who averted her eyes.

“Mother… I…”

Raising a hand to silence her daughter, Hippolyta slowly crouched to meet the bird woman on the ground, the creature looking like a disobedient animal curled up waiting to be punished. She could see the harpy’s wings were crippled, and her injuries plain to see as the red feathered bird woman clutched at her side. Reaching out, she raised Artemis’s chin, narrowing her eyes as she tilted the harpy’s face back and forth. Artemis still looked away, but instead of glazed, milky grey eyes, hers were a sharp and vibrant green, her once festered and blistered skin looked smoother, tighter, and her teeth more human than the mishappen maw of other harpies.

“She saved us!” Spoke up a child clinging to Artemis’s claw, as did two others and their parents who stood behind her. Looking up to them and back to Artemis, the queen smiled warmly.

“Welcome back to us sister, let us know if you need anything.” Standing back to her feet, the queen continued her march down the steps, greeting those who were visiting her island.

Watching her mother descend the steps with Phillipus in tow and a pair of guards behind them, it made Diana proud to see the Queen of Amazons being the best of her people.

*

The harpies were returned to their cells, under heavier guard and tighter rotation. A funeral was held for Dhala and she was interred in the mausoleum amongst the honoured dead of the Amazons.

As for the living… The Amazons of Themyscira were given quite the culture shock tending to so many of man’s world on their island. Several dozens of the ship’s passengers were sent to the halls of the purple ray to heal their wounds, the least the people of Themyscira could do to make up for the actions of their disgraced sisters. With many of the crew and passengers gasping in shock to being completely healed of injuries that would have been crippling even after successful surgeries back home. But even those with minor scraps and bruises shown that they all had afflictions and ailments that needed healing. And so, a line had formed for them all to have their chance to bask under the purple light. Illnesses, hereditary diseases, and cancers the Themyscirans would never have known names to evaporated, leaving a growing crowd of people at the steps of the hall aimless in their elation.

The guards had their hands full keeping their ‘guests’ from wandering where they should not, guiding them less like guards to a hallowed civilization of immortal warrior women and more like tourist guides keeping them from certain exhibits. The photography taking place, wrestling lovers out of the bushes and pulling people away from the more hazardous areas of the island certainly tested their patience with so many newcomers save for one thing.

The children.

The effects Harper had on Diana’s sisters was amplified a hundred-fold with so many guards and stewards of the kingdom chasing down laughing and screaming children throughout the streets. Atla and Euboea literally had their hands full hauling four kicking and flailing little boys and girls in her arms each and marching them back to their parents for playing in the fountains or trying to enter the stables to see the horses and roos.

Even though they gave a stern front to the apologising mothers and fathers who took their children back, Diana DID notice a sliver of a grin on Euboea’s face when said children hid behind the woman’s legs when their parents gave a scolding reprimand. Diana later learned from Epistome that the two guards had been right there with her helping the children feed the animals.

Artemis had found herself surrounded by a troupe of little boys and girls who either used her as a human jungle gym or sat with her to keep company after she too had her time under the purple rays. Sitting by the edge of the street, the harpy would occasionally shiver, and every time she did, her appearance would change. Last Diana had seen checking on her Bana-Midghall sister, the woman looked up confused as a little girl laid a wreath of flowers over her head, raising her now human hands to steady the little girl as her fiery red hair regrew instantly and flowed down her shoulders and back. Making the children laugh and the warrior blush hotly.

In time, when the demand for the purple ray was no longer so high, the passengers had for the most part returned to the Serendipity or continued to wander and explore the architecture of the island, giving the guards some reprieve.

In thanks, the crew of the Serendipity had invited the royal court and their staff to attend a dinner on the ship. Something that was well honoured by Hippolyta and Phillipus as they along with Nubia and Diana joined for an evening meal. The dishes were a combination of soups and salads, followed with roast salmon and rotisserie chicken that were masterfully created by the culinary staff, and were given high praise… Then the desserts came. Looking down at the smooth ceramic bowl of scooped, pink coloured material that yielded like the broiled yams from the main course but was cold to the touch, it was lathered in a translucent red glaze and topped with a single half-cut strawberry on top. Taking a spoon full of the ‘strawberry flavoured Sunday’ Nubia looked to her sister warily, who in turn looked to be in paradise in the first bite.

Taking one herself, the woman’s eyes went wide as the delicious flavour danced over her tongue. She inhaled sharply and then swallowed, mentally cursing out loud that this ‘Sunday’ was some secret ambrosia kept from her people by the men of Man’s world. She wanted to cry out and let everyone know… Thankfully, the queen had beaten her to it as the regal, graceful warrior queen of the Amazons stood up from her seat with her spoon over her head screaming out loud enough that even the guards at the port could hear her declaration.

“ICECREAM IS WONDERFUL!!!!!”

The orchestra who were performing on the ship had in their own way tried to thank the Amazons and Wonder Woman for their aid, performing in the town square. The results lead to several couples still visiting the island to dance, all while the amazons and guards watched and listened. Some swaying to the rhythm of the performance while others not on any duties were pulled in by hand from several children bouncing on their feet to have the towering, armored women dance with them.

Slowly making her way around the dancing couples, Diana smiled to find the three she was looking for, knowing full well they would be there. Gary Thracy and Alexa spun slowly, hand in hand to the soft violin melody, a smile on their faces as they would occasionally lean in and kiss, laughing when Harper would reach out and try to join in on the dance with them.

“I thought I would find you all here.” Said Diana, folding her hands in front of her and smiling when the trio stopped. Harper ran up to the princess and hugged her waist, making her smile all the wider. “Mr. Thracy, your ship has been restored. At any time you wish, you can leave our paradise for Man’s world once more, my mother has offered to escort you the entire way back home to do…”

“I am coming with them!” Declared Alexa, pulling Gary close and still holding hands with the man. “I want to know more of their world, I want to know more about them, to be a part of their lives.”

Pulling Harper in close, Alexa looked down and smiled down at the small boy as he looked up with a smile of his own.

“You understand, do you not my princess?”

Seeing the two grow so close so quickly after his life was saved, it pulled a heart string with the woman, reminding her of the first time she left her home and why. Approaching the two, Diana placed their hands in hers and smiled back to her friend, embracing her people’s scribe, and giving Gary a surprise of his own when Diana shared the same embrace with him.

“I’d say for you to take care of her… But she can take care of herself. Instead, Mr. Thracy, relish what you both have together and NEVER push her away. I made that mistake in the past, do not repeat it, either of you.”

“I… I won’t.” Gary stuttered, a bit of red in his cheeks as Alexa laughed and kissed him.

When both parties were ready to leave, the fleet of ships left port, guided by the queen’s personal vessel away from their shores and escorted back to their native shores. When they arrived, Diana flew off the ship and made her way by flight back to her home in Washington.

Seeing Alexa and Gary together had emboldened Diana to mend what she had damaged so long ago.