Coffee talk

Making her way back from the landing pad and into the city square, Diana sighed to herself. Guards had come looking for her after the crisis regarding her invisible jet. Whoever was responsible for scuttling the aircraft had also done the same with the Amazonian fleet. The sails, ALL the sails were missing, making travel from the island all but impossible, until they were found or made anew. Someone had tried to make sure no one could leave, at least not for some time. But to what end?

“You are planning something Boston, but what? First you curse my people, then you make efforts so they could not leave… And what of the newcomers? Were THEY part of your plan too? Or just happenstance?”

Lost in thought, her concentration was quickly broken at the sight of two of her sisters quickly making their way up the path she was taking towards the market, in fact she could see several make their way to the market, forming a rather vocal crowd around a table at the square where the battalions would occasionally go to eat after practices. Curious, Diana joined them, eager to know what was gathering such a crowd. Making her way through the large throng of women and politely cutting her way through, she finally came upon an opening in the audience to finally see what they were all gathered around, or more precisely whom.

There, sitting in Nubia’s lap and laughing from all the attention he was getting from at least 5 different amazons present, was the young boy who came with the two men. Giggling and flailing his feet, Harper’s eyes squinted shut from laughing as Nubia coddled the boy as if he were her own son. But what truly surprised Diana was her sister’s appearance. Nubia was stunning. Her youth and beauty had been restored to her former glory, regal, powerful. And yet, as beautiful as she had become, her smile was never more radiant. She had seen her sister happy before, but never to this degree; laughing with the boy as she tickled him in her arms, Nubia’s face was the very picture of joy.

And hers was not the only one. Charis, one of her own personal guards smiled and giggled as well while Harper was given to her to bounce at her knee so Nubia could finish her meal and drink. The woman beaming a perfect smile, combing a finger through her luxurious black hair as she hugged the small child to her stomach and chest. Tali, Atlee, Gala, Areto. All the Amazons who had interacted with the boy had been transformed, restored. And the crowd of amazons nearby watched, almost eager to interact with the child or watch vicariously through the sisters lucky enough to express such maternal affection, hoping for the same effect to change them too, if given the chance. It wasn’t until one of them spotted their princess finally cut through the crowd of elderly looking woman to approach the table that Nubia and the others stood to their feet and saluted. Leaving Phin and Gary Thracy to sit, unsure what to do.

“Y-Your highness!” Gasped Charis, her cheeks red as she stood, her arms folded in front of Harper to keep him close. “I… We can explain.”

“Our guests were guided here to eat and well…” Nubia stood rigid, maintaining her salute, her smile still on her lips even as she watched her princess crouch before the young boy and smiled herself.

“There is nothing to explain my sister, after all these people are our guests. Hello little one.” Diana said sweetly, smiling warmly to the young boy. “And what is your name? We were not properly introduced.”

“I’m Harper.” The boy said out loud, making the amazons giggle at his exuberance. The boy then turned to the table where his father and grandfather sat and quickly got to their feet to stand after a nudged from Dhala’s elbow. “And that’s my dad and grampa.”

Seeing the two men awkwardly try to stand with some civility, Diana smiled and kissed Harper on the forehead. “May I join you all?”

Very quickly, the amazons made room for the princess to sit and join them, giving the chance for everyone else to sit with Harper, who sat in Charis’s lap reaching for a cup of water. To the two men, the princess was in a word: perfect. The news feeds and photos did no justice as she sat and combed a strand of hair away from her gorgeous face. She was tall, with long legs, firm and toned. Athletic in build yet still feminine, with curves that would have made any woman back home jealous. Silky smooth, black hair flowed down her shoulders and back with body and vibrancy. There was not a single fault in her skin, so much so she almost glowed, smiling towards her sisters with ruby red lips and sparkling blue eyes. Seeing to the two men who out of a look of embarrassment, shifted their eye away when Diana addressed them with a warm smile.

“Welcome to Themyscira you three, I do apologise for my people’s reaction to you, we… We do not get many visitors.”

Nodding to Wonder Woman’s answer, Phin shrugged as he took his drink in hand. “Nice place so far, the welcome got a bit better after talking with Dhala.”

“Yes, she’s been a real pal here.”

Turning her gaze to the guard, Diana’s eyes narrowed, but still retained her smile. “Has she now?”

Out of all the amazons present who were now stunningly beautiful and looking to the child and each other’s appearance with joy, Dhala stood out as still appearing elderly and diseased ridden. But there was something strange about her demeanor, one out of place with the hot-tempered woman who would give her a challenge in shield practice every morning. This… This was not Dhala.

“Dhala, I take it you were assigned to keep our guests’ company?”

Nervously, the old looking woman looked away while playing with her thumbs. “The boss lady told me to keep an eye on’em. Figured they’d NEVER do something stupid surrounded by a whole army right?”

Winking back at the princess, Dhala picked up her own drink, acting to take a sip.

“Alexa is currently looking to your fishing boat to see if it can be repaired, sadly it may not be for a week at best.” Explained Diana to Phin and Gary, the more elderly of the two looked nervous at that as he padded his pockets, looking for something.

“Well then, I’m sorry to hear that, I overheard you could fly us back home, is that still possible?” Asked Gary, leaning forward with his hands clasped together.

Turning her attention back to Dhala, Diana shook her head. “Sadly no… I was informed my jet will be unusable until it can be repaired, as will the royal fleet who have mysteriously lost all their sails. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you Dhala?”

Shrugging while taking a sip from her drink, Dhala’s eyes continued to shift. Leaning forward and crooking her finger for Dhala to lean in also, Diana whispered low so only the two could hear each other. “What game are you playing at Boston?”

“This aint no game Dee.” Boston drawled. “Games imply there’s a winner and a loser. Think of it as… Therapy.”

“Therapy? You curse my sisters and trap them here, and you call that therapy?”

With a toothy grin, Boston gestured with his eyes for Diana to look at what he was seeing. Turning to look for herself, she found Harper smiling as Areto tickled the boy, the woman shivering as her hair grew more alive, and luxurious, her skin becoming silky smooth and unblemished. One of the elder looking Amazons had stepped forward and extended her hand to meet the boy’s own, smiling as he shook her hand on impulse. Crouch to squeeze the boy’s hands in her own, the crone smiled, shivering as she quickly appeared younger, her flaws evaporating before their eyes.

“Seems to me, therapy’s doin them some good.”

“WHAT IN HERA’S NAME ARE YOU DOING!” Roared out a voice, one the amazons recognised as they all stood to attention and turned to the source of it. There, marching their way towards the table with a look of wild fury in her eyes, were the remaining three generals Alkyone, Aello and Ocypete. Approaching the table, they did not even address their fellow sister in arms or the princess, instead staring daggers down at Dhala who looked around and found all attention was on her. Grabbing the woman by the front of her armor, Alkyone’s face was a bear trap of crooked teeth and thin lips, twisted into pure rage.

“I GAVE YOU STRICK ORDERS FOR THESE… THINGS TO BE KEPT IN THEIR QUARTERS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. I STRICTLY ORDERED YOU NOT TO HAVE THEM WANDER THE ROYAL GROUNDS! AND YET HERE YOU ARE FEEDING THESE PARASITES!!!”

Shrugging with her hands up in a defeated gesture, Dhala chuckled nervously. “Whooops!”

Teeth gritting in barely restrained rage, Aello took up her sister’s side, pointing an accusing finger. “You were ordered to keep them in the dungeons, WHY are they out here eating amongst our sisters?”

“The child was hungry.”

“WHEN I REQUIRE AN ANSWER FROM YOU INSTEAD OF ONE OF MY SUBORDINATES, I WILL LET YOU… Know.” Her rage deflating, Ocypete quickly realised the table was also occupied by their sister general and the princess of the amazons, giving the trio a cold look as they slowly got to their feet at the table.

“The dungeon Ocypete? You decided to keep our guests in the dungeons?” Asked Diana coldly, the question making Nubia turn to see the young boy look scared in her sister’s presence. “You were given orders to give them accommodation, as guests.” Diana declared. “NOT as prisoners. Does the Queen know?”

Now it was Alkyone’s turn to look nervous, her eyes darting between Dhala, the two men and her princess, before she let Dhala go and regained her composure. As did her fellow generals.

“There is no room… Yes, no room for them in the Barracks.”

“No room anywhere ELSE too!” Hissed Aello, glaring at the two men and the boy with a contemptuous gaze. “The dungeons are ALL that’s left.”

“Except maybe the stables… With the rest of the animals.” The three had a quick laugh at the jest, something that bristled at the princess as she stood from her seat.

“You embarrass me in front of our guests, Ocypete.” Moving from her seat to stand behind the two men, Diana rested her hands on their shoulders. “If it pleases you, your family is welcome to take my quarters, I can take the stables.”

“Princess.” Spoke Aello, her glare humourless. “I would not choose this course of action.”

“I have spoken Aello, besides… It has been some time since I have tended to the horses and roos, I am sure Episteme will welcome the company.” With a light gasp, Diana felt a shiver run down her back, one alien yet pleasant. A firmness could be felt in her chest as well as her hips, and for a brief stint she thought she felt her hair grow longer. As quickly as it started, it ended, leaving Diana alert again as she retained her soft grip on the two men’s shoulders.

Breathing sharply and looking to the group of Amazons around them, the three generals stared anxious at their sister’s reactions, some even giving the two men a hand over their shoulder as if to congratulate them. Nubia herself hugged the young boy in her lap, smiling down at him. The fact she was now stunningly beautiful made the other three generals… Furious.

“Very well then.” Hissed Alkyone, looking to the table and the plates of food spread out for the family and their guests to eat from. Picking up a plate of food and looking back over to the two men, the crone threw down the plate, smashing it on the ground and sending fruit and bread scattering across the stonework.

“But they will NOT eat our food!”

“Indeed sister, we may not have a say in their accommodations, but our people are warriors Diana, these… Interlopers have yet to prove themselves worthy to eat our foods and drink our drink. “

“Aello…” Diana’s displeasure soon evaporated when Nubia raised a hand.

“I am loathe to say this, but Aello is right. These tables are for the Themysciran militia to eat.”

Smiling devilishly, Ocypete raised her chin high and glowered down at the two men. “Perhaps if my sisters are generous, you can be fed scraps from the farmlands.”

“OR… Or they can PROVE they are warriors!” Announced Dhala, her finger pointed up to get their attention. Diana whispered Boston’s name in confusion, only to get a wink from the haggard looking woman.

“What say you sister?”

“I’m SERIOUS, if these mooks can prove they can dish it out like any other tough broad in here, than you don’t have to feed’em pig feed. But if they’z lose then you can feed’em the crust off yer sandals all you want.”

Stepping away, the three generals whispered to each other, slowly nodding to the idea before smiling as one and pointing out towards the training grounds are.

“Very well males, you wish to eat, then meet us at the obstacle course.”

Marching their way there, the rest of the amazons followed them out of the market, all the while Bostom smiled and crossed his arms, before leaning to the side to whisper to Diana. “What’s the obstacle course?”