The head healer, Epione nodded, "Right. I apologize for this, your highnesses, but we need space and room to help her. Out!", and Diana held into Hippolyta's arm, "Come on, Mother. You heard Epione. She and her guild of healers will heal the child.", tugging her away.
Hippolyta nodded as she frowned softly, "I pray that she will live through this...She's so young...I feel like she would need us...", as she walked from the Healing Halls with Diana, seeing the crowding Amazons at the base of the great stairs.
Hippolyta held up a hand, and commanded in her queenly voice, "Sisters! Do not fret about the strange explosion, it's ebbed away by the work of Poseidon, and we are safe from man for almost everyone there has died in one of man's machines thanks to the explosion. We have delivered a sole survivor, a young girl who couldn't be more than 6 summers old, and she has suffered pain, but under the hands of our beloved head healer Epione and her guild of healers, it's up to the young one to fight for her life, for the gods decreed in agreement to protect her from the great explosion.".
No one questioned Hippolyta before everyone started to go back to their normal routines, while Hippolyta and Diana returned to the Grand Temple where Hippolyta sat upon her throne. "I know that look, Mother.", Diana said as she sighed.
"I do not know the future of that girl, but we cannot let her return to the world of men... I fear that her family was aboard that plane.", Hippolyta spoke. "That was my fear as well; she might not have anyone left.", Diana nodded.
Hippolyta looks at Diana, "How does man's world deal with orphans?", and Diana replies, "Well, things would have changed now, since it has been many years since I was in their second world war, but I have heard that orphans become wards of the state essentially according to Steve, and orphans then was fostered either to work on farms or other places, living with the families there temporarily as the families receive money to raise the orphans with food, shelter, clothes, or they get adopted into families permanently, essentially becoming their children officially, and the adopted children are no longer orphans, becoming foundlings.".
"I can hear it in your tone, Diana... there's a dark side to it, isn't there?", Hippolyta asked as Diana nodded. "There are plenty that are still neglected, on a multitude of circumstances. Lack of funds, the homes being terrible for them that the state is unaware...", Diana sighed.
Hippolyta exhaled deeply, "Because man's world is far bigger beyond the Mediterranean.", having heard astounding things from Diana, and Diana replied, "Yes, Mother...You really think she needs us, or all the Amazons?".
"The Amazons will teach her, but we will be the ones to do the raising, the sheltering, and the feeding. But we will not force her as it's her choice to have a home with any of the Amazons, including us, as she would need time to get through her grief...I remember how we all essentially raised you, dear daughter.", Hippolyta smiled before chuckling, "You know, the day you left, Steven has told me of a proverb from his culture after he had learnt of how you were taught, 'It takes a village to raise a child.'. He was right.".
Diana smiled at Hippolyta, and said, "I never imagined that I'd be an actual sister, and I'll be happy to do so, Mother. But for now, I'm praying to the gods that she is alright. I can't be more grateful that we have such gifted healers, let alone the Healing Halls.". Hippolyta nodded, "So do I, Diana, so do I.".
Carrie groaned as she felt a warm rag wiping against her forehead. Last thing she could remember, was the plane going down, some other folks screaming as her parents clutched her, saying that they loved her. Even for a six-year-old, she knew they were going to die when she heard everything.
So it was to her great surprise that she slowly opened her eyes to see some beautiful women dressed like they were ancient Greek hovering over her.
Carrie began to speak before she croaked, coughing as she was dry in the throat, and one of the women shushed gently, "Easy, little one, drink this slowly.", handing her a glass of water, helping lean her head up as Carrie sipped the refreshing cool water slowly, and then gave her a small smile, "Thank you, miss lady...Where am I? Where are my mummy and dadd-?", before she froze, and she teared up, whispering, "Oh...They're really dead, aren't they?".
The woman sighed softly, "I'm afraid so, little one. And as to answer your first question, you are on the island of Themyscira. I'm Epione, the head healer here. Our queen and princess have rescued you from a drift leftover of the crash. What may I call you, little one?".
Carrie sniffled, looking up at Epione, "Carrie...Carrie Kelley. Wait, you got a queen and princess here? Like actually royalty?". Epione chuckled, "Yes, we indeed have a queen and princess here. Now, how about we see if you're feeling good to get off from bed and walk, young Carrie?".
"O-Okay...", Carrie gave a small nod as she tried to lift herself up; she was a mess of emotions at the moment, but right now, she was just trying to make sure that she could still move. She should've been dead but obviously wasn't it; a strange sense, in the back of her head, was telling her that, as if she had known the experience of death sometime prior somehow.
She can feel lingering aches and exhausted pains, but she was surprised to see flawless skin, wiggling her fingers and toes, moving her arms and legs, and turned her head around from side to side, "Whoa...Feels funny but good...", looking at Epione.
"Those aches will vanish soon enough, young Carrie. Put your feet over and down next.", Epione smiled warmly, and Carrie did what she asked, and she got off bed, blinking as she focused her balance, walking slowly before picking up pace, smiling, "I did it! I'm walking! You must be really good at healing, Epione!".
Epione blushed, smiling, "Thank you, young Carrie, but it wasn't just me, my guild of healers helped too.", gestured to a few other women, and Carrie smiled at them, "Thank you!", and they awwed, smiling, "You're welcome, little one! She's really adorable when she smiles like that! She's so cute!".
Carrie blushed, smiling, and Epione walked to her, holding out her hand, "You must be hungry at least. Shall we go to the Queen and Princess and see if they are excited to invite you to a good supper, and then a nice, warm bed?". Carrie nodded, "O-Okay...I know they saved me, and I'm awfully glad for it, but are they really nice?", taking her hand as they went to walk through the Healing Halls.
"To you, they will be the nicest women you'll ever meet.", Epione told her; obviously, the young girl didn't need to know about their issues with men, she was just too young and Epione was fairly certain that the girl's father probably was a decent man so to talk bad about men in general after just losing him was probably not the best idea.
Carrie blinked and smiled, "I think I believe you, Epione.", before seeing the bright sun as they exited the Healing Halls, and she ducked, closing her eyes as she emerged into the light, blinking her eyes to adjust to the daylight before they widened as wide as they could be, "Wow...", becoming speechless as she tried to take in everything.
"Young Carrie, welcome to Themyscira.", Epione declared proudly and happy as she opened her free arm, smiling at the fact that she's proud of her beloved home, standing for centuries beyond centuries, under the guidance of Queen Hippolyta.
"Wh-why have I never heard or seen this place? Is this not Greece?", Carrie asked as Epione chuckled, "Well, yes and no about it being the land that men call Greece. The Queen can better explain it, but this is a realm hidden from the world, a sanctuary for us Amazons.".
It was indeed a sanctuary, a glorious, beautiful, lush island full of Greco-Roman architecture in the main city, with some on the outer borders like farms and such, with great mountains, hillsides of tropical forest, waterfalls, streams, ponds, and trails here and there, with many livestock creatures to farm, breed, and a few mystical creatures like the Pegasi that's flying through the skies with riders on them, and game creatures in the forests and mountains.
Carrie was awed, "Whoa...And it's all pretty girls?", seeing so many women in their routines, talking, reading, trading, and even play-fighting down below the great steps through the downtown quarters of the city.
"Yep; the only ones here are us Amazons, no men are allowed unless special exception decreed by the Queen herself. And that is almost a true rarity since the ones allowed only remain here for a short time.", Epione explained as Carrie then gasped.
"Wait, you said Amazons? As in THE Amazons, the ones that they talked about in those Greek fairy tales, or... oh, what was the word, um...", Carrie said. Her brain was trying to think of myths or legends, but the word just escaped her six-year-old mind at the moment.
Epione laughed gently, "I believe you were implying us to be a myth, yes?", and Carrie nodded sheepishly, and Epione smiled, "And now, young Carrie?".
Carrie replied, "I really hope that I get to explore this place, this is amazing!", and Epione chuckled, "You will, young Carrie. Come along, we couldn't keep the queen and princess waiting.".
Carrie smiled, "Oh, yeah!", holding her hand tightly as they walked down the great steps, and through the city. Carrie shyly waved to the women who is gasping and watching and staring.
"Why are they staring at me, Epione? I'm a girl like them, nothing special!", Carrie asked with a frown. True, she was used to attention from her parents, her first-grade teacher and classmates, but this feels different.
"There is a slight difference; for starters, they know you as someone from the world of men.", Epione told her as she blushed. "Is that a bad thing?", Carrie asked.
"To some, a bit but mostly just slight nose turns; nothing you truly need to worry about.", Epione said. Carrie blinked, "Oh, if you say so, Epione, I won't worry.", and Epione smiled. Soon, they made it to the Palace, and Carrie widened her eyes in awe as she saw an awfully pretty woman in a throne, with an equally pretty woman next to her.
Epione kneeled and bowed her head, saluting with her hand on her heart, "My queen, my princess, I bring you Carrie Kelley. Young Carrie, this is their highnesses, Queen Hippolyta and Princess Diana of the Amazons, rulers of Themyscira.".
Carrie quickly bowed herself, well, more of a curtsy; even early in life, she was getting the British aristocracy treatment. "Thank you, Epione.", Hippolyta nodded. "Any issues with her injuries?".
"Surprisingly for how she was, they were quite easy to mend; she indeed must have been greatly shielded by the Gods if what you said was accurate, Diana, about a volcano eruption.", Epione explained with a nod to Diana.
Carrie was confused of why the princess said it looked like a volcano eruption when it was a plane crash before she realized that it must have looked like a volcano eruption from the outside view.
Diana replied, "That's good news.", with a nod and a smile, and Hippolyta looks at Carrie, "How are you feeling, little one?".
"Alright...", Carrie admitted as she felt the sorrowful feelings of her parent's loss hitting her again. She started to sniffle as she rubbed her eyes, "You didn't find Mum and Dad where you found me? They're... gone?". Hippolyta gave a reluctant nod.
"My mother and all here are mostly strangers to the world of men when it comes to their technology for the most part; but I spent some time myself, and know well enough from what I saw, the angle that jet you were on; no one should've survived that. You very much, by sheer providence, were the only survivor.", Diana told her.
Carrie sniffled heavily, "I...I am really alone...my grandparents passed sometime before I was born...are...are you going to send me back?".
Hippolyta shook her head, "No, the Gods protected you for a reason, why I do not know, and I might never know but from what Diana has told me in regard to children who have lost their families; well, I think it would be much better for you to stay here if you desire. I don't want you to think that you're a prisoner here; far from the opposite.". She then stood up as she walked forward to Carrie before kneeling down and gently rubbing her eyes to get the tears out, "I'm asking if you maybe are willing to let me become a new mother for you...".
Carrie blinked, and shyly whispered, "I don't know if mummy is okay with that...I don't wanna forget her or Daddy...". Hippolyta nodded, "I know, and I am okay with that. I won't ever replace your mum, just look in your heart, and you got more room in there than you think. And I believe she would want you to be happy as she is looking over you from the stars in the heavens.".
Carrie thought about it for a moment. It was true in a way, the way Hippolyta was asking, she would have a choice. One thing was for certain, she didn't have a home to go back to; she didn't want to return home without her parents and being an orphan... even she knew from a few other kids that sort of thing was practically a toss-up of either a good home or a bad one. Here, it seemed more certain of a good home... to a Queen no less!
And of course, she'd have a Princess for a sister too! Carrie took a deep breath, and gave a small smile, "I'd like to have a home with you, Your Highness...I...I make no promise that I'd call you mother, as it feels so fast.".
"Oh, Carrie, you may call me Hippolyta for the time until you feel ready to call me Mother, and ready to embrace your new sister in Diana, and you take all the time to be sad for your lost parents...I can be convinced to give funeral rites to honor your parents tonight after supper and some naptime for you, okay?", Hippolyta smiled.
Carrie sniffled with a small nod, "You'd do that for me? Thank you!", hugging Hippolyta, and she was stunned momentarily before smiling sadly and embracing her new daughter. And so, Carrie was fed a small feast, and had some naptime before it got dark, and by a feeling, Diana went by the crash site, and almost everything was swept away, but she uncovered a suitcase with the surname of Kelley, and remembering what Carrie called herself, took it to Carrie.
Carrie grieved with bittersweet smiles as she carefully and lovingly separated her lost parents' belongings into the one wide funeral platform with help from Epione and Hippolyta, thanks to her height at the moment, with all the Amazons watching and singing in Ancient Greek and English to honor Carrie's lost parents, and the other lost souls.
They lifted up the platform, marching to the closest seaside cliff near the crash site, and dug a grave, putting the platform into the grave, and gifted from the silversmith and blacksmith is a gravestone that will stand untested by time yet worn by nature, and with guidance by Carrie to be precise, the scribes wrote the names, how they were beloved, and the date of their births and death on the gravestone.
All almost the Amazons planted flowers, and a great sapling tree, and gave their condolences to Carrie as they left the place, and Carrie sniffled, holding Hippolyta's hand, "How could I know if they're watching over me and they're not hurting anymore, and I don't know where their stars are?", as she was both grieving, yet awed of the incredible night sky that's full of stars way more than she could count.
Diana brushed her brand-new sister's hair gently, "I have lost someone very special to me too, Carrie. A man, a special man who was good and loving. His name was Steve Trevor, and it hurts to miss him, but his star is up there, and I'm sure he's making friends with your parents, showing them how to show their stars, sometimes it takes a few minutes after the funeral rites are done.", with a little assuring smile.
"Was he that exception?", Carrie asked her. "Epione mentioned about men before, that they're not allowed or that they can only be here briefly...". Diana took a deep breath.
"Yes, to answer your question, he was an exception, at least in terms of being here briefly. As for others... you're young, you don't need to be too troubled by our rules and history right now.", Diana gave a small smile, explaining as she leaned down to gently rub Carrie's back.