Kori sobbed, "What happened, Komi? As far as I can remember, I looked up to you when I was little, and you were this amazing, confident, and brave big sister I'd always love and laugh and hug with, playing games and taking me out to meadows where we'd fly around and make shapes out of the clouds when they pass by the meadows, and at night, you'd make those awesome lights for us to read stories together...And then that damn illness came...I really prayed that you'd come out okay and smiling at me like you can do anything, and when I heard that you were okay, I admit I was horrified and confused that you lost your power of flying and making those floating fireballs, but I was still so relieved that you were alive and all...I had nightmares about not having you around when you were sick, I was afraid that I'd lose you, my big sister, not the princess of Tamaran, or the firstborn daughter of our dad and mother, but you, Komi...Who or where could I be without you?", looking at Komi.
"Kori...", Komi whispered as the redhead took a deep breath, "Please, Komi, I know how upset you are with everyone, with our parents, our people, those monsters that treated you like nothing more than a Zyganian Blishorrp, but please... what you have now, it's like a gift, to have things back to the way at least when we were young... even if it's just the two of us now, I just want the sister I love back...".
Komi exhaled, realizing that she truly had been blind so much, mistaking Kori's comforts and such as pity, and she now remembered those wonderful days where it seemed like no royal duties, no kissing up bastards and such, just them, and she then remembered that Kori always claimed that she always wanted to explore and such, saying that being in politics and needing to rule is no fun, all before Komi got sick...Has she truly forgotten so much?
And honestly, she knew Kori was smart, if perhaps a bit naive or very friendly at times, and her sister has a point...With the war, the chaos, and who knows how long she and Kori was in the ship, it may have been all but true that she and Kori are the last of the Tamaran race, and it was a miracle really to escape even if violently, and her sister hadn't abandoned her, and brought her to help in the end...
Komi gave a small, genuine smile she hadn't done in years, "You are persistent, you know that? I'm truly so sorry, munchkin...Forgive me?", using a long-forgotten nickname she had for Kori.
Kori blinked for a moment. "J-just like that?", she asked. Komi replied, "What? You wanting a long-winded speech of how much of a bitch I've been? I get it, simply saying sorry is no way truly making up for all the years of shit I've given you, I know that but... I can't really think of much of what I could say other than just trying to say sorry and hoping we can move on... together... we're the last of Tamaran for all we know... probably not a great idea for us to be trying to kill each other, er, more me trying to kill you than the other way.".
Kori gave a wide smile, "More like a drama brat than a grumpy bitch.", and Komi groaned, "Oi!", her genuine smile growing bigger in contrast.
Kori giggled, looking at her big sister, "You're my sister, you don't have to apologize, but I accept anyway, and I forgive you. I missed you, Big Sis.", using her long-forgotten nickname for Komi, moving to gently hug Komi, minding the injury, "I love you, sis...".
Komi hugged her back, feeling the shadows disappear, "I love you too, sis.", and so, the reunited and reconciliating sisters hugged for a few minutes before Kori backed away, "Can you please not fight the healers now in healing that injury?".
"I'll not fight them again, Kori, but it's not easy when I can't get lip contact.", Komi scoffed, and Kori replied, "I can help you there. I...I may have kissed someone already. I got the knowledge of her two languages; English and Greek...".
Komi blinked before smirking, "That quirky short-haired girl? Can't blame you, she's pretty. I think I faintly remember her for a moment there...Were that the two of you talking after she checked on me?", seeing Kori blush a deeper shade of pitch-dark orange, realizing that she indeed is starting to enjoy teasing her little sister.
"We were...", Kori admitted as Komi smiled, "Well, hey, if she's gonna be your mate, then all power to you there, little sis...". Kori went even redder as Komi laughed, "Come on, you opened yourself up to that!".
Kori chuckled, "Okay, I walked into that one...", and Komi smirked, "You did...So, what's her name?", and Kori smiled, "Carrie. And she's the second-born daughter, adoptive, of the Queen who rules the island here. She's 16 summers old...".
"Ah, around your age, then...And wait, oh, crap...how much hot water am I in? Oh, please tell me that I didn't hurt any healer when I was being in their care for the fever...", Komi asked urgently, looking horrified. It was one thing with peasants or middle-class people, yet this is another thing with royalty!
Kori sighed, "Well, no, it doesn't appear that you caused much trouble... but I'm afraid this place's queen intends for you to be kept a close eye on, no, actually, that's sort of a lie, you can already guess with those restraints that they deem you a prisoner.", she explained.
"Great...", Komi huffed in frustration. "Let me guess, you had to explain why we're here... how I tried to kill you?". Kori nodded. "Can't blame her then... for a minute before we talked; I was certainly thinking of burning this whole place to the ground for trying to keep me restrained.".
"Listen, I think instead of imprisonment, we can convince them for asylum; but it depends on you... so I got to ask, are you able to keep yourself together? Not to fight and all and try to harm me or anyone else? Self-defense of course, is an exception, these Amazons are a proud society of warrior women.", Kori explained.
"Warrior women? Huh, not too different from Tamarians, then...And yeah, I think I can do that...I promise I won't harm, but I can't promise that I'd be nice all the time...I...10 years of being angry and grouchy and scowling is still a habit I need to practice getting rid of...", Komi sighed.
"I know... I think... if these women are like Carrie, then I think things will be alright.", Kori said. "Just one question... how exactly do they reproduce?", Komi wondered. "Do they get slave men or something?". Kori blinked a few times. "Um... actually, I don't know...", she admitted.
"Hey, get closer, could you?", Komi asked as Kori did... before Komi leaned her head to kiss Kori on the lips. It lasted for a few seconds; much shorter than the one that Kori gave Carrie earlier. "I was either going to learn those languages either from you or maybe take that queen in for a quick lip lock.", Komi snickered, now speaking English.
Kori replied, "I think the queen would react by harming you badly as she only recently learned of your aggression and such.", and Komi winced slightly, "Good point...", before exhaling, "Right, you better tell the healers that I'm agreeing to ultimate healing for the injury and of course, the queen.".
Kori nodded, "Right.", and so Kori went to inform the healers and the queen, and so, Hippolyta met Komi as the healers worked on her, and it was declared that Komi is released, not a prisoner, but on parole as Diana had described the meaning of parole before, thanks to Steve and being in Man's world, and Kori is not on parole, but is to room-guard her sister in one of the offered houses near the palace, but still far from it in case there is warning enough to see an attack by Komi if she broke her agreement.
It was quite a few crazy weeks of royal politic dinners and such before everything seemed to settle down, with all the Amazons asking questions and showing them around the city and island here and there before Carrie finally was able to get Kori alone.
There were indeed discreet glances, blushes and such over dinners and other places over the past few weeks between Carrie and Kori, and the sisters indeed learned incredible things, along with some horrific things that the queen regretted long ago.
"Hey, this looks familiar...", Kori replied, now dressed in a mix of Amazonian dress and Tamaran colors as she and Komi found out that leather doesn't do well in humidity here and there.
Carrie smiled, "Should be...This is where we sparred, and the waterfall is not far behind...", with a blush and a nostalgic smile, "Figured that this would be a good spot to sit after riding our horses.", getting off her horse to loosely tie the reins to a tree, as the duo has gone out on riding, with Carrie teaching Kori, and Kori being a quick learner.
"So, how do you feel with your new home?", Carrie asked. "I know it's probably not exactly where you'd truly want to be... I know you'd feel just a tiny bit better being with your people; at least to know if they were alright and you and your sister aren't the last of your kind...".
Kori sighed after tying up her own horse next to Carrie's horse, walking next to her, "To be honest, I admit it's familiar to home, and it helps with that sense of nostalgia for Komi to be the girl I remember from childhood easier, but yes, I'd feel better if I least know what happened entirely to my people, as it was war...I don't know if they became prisoners of war, or worse...".
Carrie sighed as she carried the picnic basket, "Mother often said that there are worse things than death...And I'm honestly relieved that those monsters weren't rapists...I wouldn't wish Mother's past on you, even if experimenting on you is still horrifying...Treating you like slaves...Watching you every moment...Did they at least leave you two alone for bathroom breaks and sleep?", with a shiver.
"Probably not.", Kori sighed, "They probably had us monitored every second; it's the reason I didn't try escaping until Komi started to tear the place up...". She then smiled, "Heh... it's weird... I almost keep crying every time I see Komi soaring above Themyscira's skies... showing off her power. She's the rightful heir again, though her attitude still needs some softening still but...". Kori sniffled with a smile on her face.
Carrie smiled at her as she then put down the picnic basket, and threw down the blanket, and taking a seat, near the waterfall, "I think the practice duels are helping her out with the condition of no huge fireballs...My sisters are appreciative of the new surprises in dueling against a warrior like her...And you as well...", blushing as she often watched Kori learn better in hand-to-hand combat with other Amazons, while having classes in archery and sword fighting.
Kori laughed softly, "Why, thank you, Carrie.", sitting down next to her, "I bet you got tons of good stories.", and Carrie giggled, "Sure do.", taking some soap from a lined pocket to wash their hands in a bowl of water from the pond of the waterfall, beginning to tell some stories between her training and patrols, having some lunch from the picnic basket for a while.
After that, Kori told stories herself about her childhood as they digested their lunch, giggling and laughing. "Hold on, so the chef thought that it was a mouse that got into dessert when it was actually you and Komi?!", Carrie exclaimed.
Kori snickered, "Yep, we had built a model of a mouse, and you should have seen the look on his face...We got dessert that night, and it was worth it as we were banned from the kitchen then for a whole week.".
"Ooh, dang, you were really sneaky!", Carrie giggled as Kori laughed, "Sure helped us later in life.", and Carrie smiled, "Yeah...", blushing as she remembered that first day where Kori was sneaky, and she exhaled, "Do you remember our talk on the steps outside the healing halls?".
Kori looked at her, and the atmosphere became serious, "Yes, I do...I recall you saying that there's something I probably didn't know when I was watching you here in this very waterfall before your mother interrupted us...".
Carrie exhaled, blushing, "You saw me posing for a few minutes, yes?", and Kori nodded, "Yeah...", and Carrie replied, "To initiate a courtship between two Amazons, the dominant one shows off by posing and showing off their builds...I was daydreaming there with my eyes closed, and I wasn't intentionally initiating as I was focused on being clean and all...".
"Oh...", Kori blushed at the thought, as it made some sense; considering an island of all women, courting would probably be much different.
Carrie nodded, "Yeah...What about your people? What do they do for courting?", and Kori exhaled, "For them, they show off their skills of their strength, their flight, and more to protect a home, a family, along with the ability to connect emotionally, wanting to learn things equally, and showing off their physicality, and it depends on the pace and how they want to stick with the order of courtship.".
Carrie listened before widening her eyes, "Oh, that's why you said equal partners!", and Kori nodded, "Yes...Through courtship, it's the term of partners, and through engagement, it's the term of companions, and then in marriage, it's the term of mates...", with a blush as she remembered Komi teasing her in finding a future mate in Carrie.
"So... um, is it a case where both of us would be dominant then?", Carrie asked before she quickly covered her mouth; shocked she said that out loud like that as she went deeply red in the face.
Kori licked her lips, blushing, "Well, it's true that I can be strong, able to take care of myself well in a duel, but I'm...I suppose you could say that I'm sub-dominant, as I can fight for my family, my freedom, but I don't like pain, even on my enemies...I never freaked out when you dominated over me, didn't I?", smiling at her.
"No... you didn't...", Carrie rubbed her arm. Was this really happening? Was Kori the one she has been looking for? They were both a bit unorthodox in their upbringings; she is being an alien princess while Carrie was this average human girl made warrior princess.
"Just... part of me does feel a strange at moments... in my years being raised here, I've honestly been told that I've been one of those that most of my sisters would joke and say that I would easily take my lover... drag them to my room and...", Carrie blushed deep again. "Well, as it is, be the dominant one in the relationship.".
Kori smiled, blushing, "I'd like that...But I think my room would be better...I mean, with your mother, sister, and niece, well...I can understand Diana, but I wouldn't want to traumatize Tessa, and...well, I don't know about your mother...I mean, I'm not a man at all, but I'm an exiled princess...".
Carrie's heart skipped a beat, blushing deep red as she got a bit turned on at the thought, and whispered, "You really want to court me?". Kori nodded, taking her hand, "I do, Carrie of Themyscira...Do you want to court me?".
"Yes...I want to court you, Kori of Tamaran...And I want to mean it the Amazon way...", Carrie nodded, and squeezed her hand in joy before getting up and walked a bit forward, turning around, using the waterfall as background, and began her posing, showing off her curves and body, replying, "You can jump in to respond to my request of courtship by saying yes any way you want when you feel ready after watching me long enough to be interested...", shocked that she's doing this in front of a gorgeous alien princess.
"So... does that require me to start posing too?", Kori chuckled. "Or do I instead need to cling to you and gently caress your muscles and curves because I'm actually in favor of that?... You just have such a wonderfully sculpted body, Carrie; no woman on Tamaran has a body like that. We're all pretty much like Alexa; little muscle to show though have tremendous strength.".
Carrie blushed red, surprised to hear that she got one over the Tamaran women who would be courting Kori if she was there without being kidnapped, no war and chaos, and smiled, "The second one...", having goosebumps at the thought of being caressed.
Kori didn't hesitate, wanting to say yes any way she wants, so damn interested in Carrie, moving almost so fast that she's not exactly a blur, but careful enough not to startle Carrie too much, clinging gently to Carrie from behind, whispering, "Keep posing...Show me how perfect you can fit against me...", caressing gently from Carrie's neck, breathing into Carrie's ear.