It also had much to do with whatever their captors had done to Komi, that her powers were burning her metabolism at a much faster rate than Kori's hence the need for more exposure from the sun. The issue of course was the young woman took it as 'easier to get recharged' if less of her body was covered.
It certainly caused Hippolyta and Komi to butt heads so often, especially with Komi discarding her orders after the first few times of yakking on promises.
It was far more than Hippolyta remembered with Diana, and she thought Diana was stubborn, but Komi put her to shame, thanks to the Amazons informing her.
And of course, the day was no different as once more, Komi was strutting around, acting like she owned the place, without a sense of modesty about her body or respect for her Amazonian kin that would much prefer that Komi would cover up once leaving the bathing halls.
Komi had to almost chuckle at the blushes and eyerolls she was getting, though there was a few of the Amazonians who were more the dominant type that were checking her out a bit, which was always nice to know to her that she certainly had the looks.
"The prudishness at times around here's so baffling...", Komi said under her breath. "The bathing halls, the training pits to make sure even at their most vulnerable, the women are still not defenseless, the romps in the forest... all that's fine to show off the body but here in the city's the issue?".
Komi knew that her body has to adjust to the level of her regained powers after not having them for 10 years, and from her observations so far, she's halfway adjusted, but she's still needing more time, perhaps another six months at worst case, which is not that bad, considering that she's on a lovely, comfortable island with at least 14-18 hours of sunshine during the day, depending on the season and island spots of high views, and of course, her immunity to sunburn is fabulous.
She couldn't understand why most Amazons said that it's not right under Hermes' eyes, when she is stubborn that it's just a sun. Sure, reading the books about the gods was interesting, but there's no proof.
Komi yawned as she stretched her arms before she started to float upwards as she saw the library, which had nice, rounded curves on the architecture that was prefect for her to lounge around and soak up more of the sun.
"Komand'r of Tamaran, don't you dare go up higher! Come down at once!", the sharp and familiarly angry voice of Hippolyta shouted, and Komi groaned, rolling her eyes as she huffed, hearing, "Don't roll your eyes around me, young lady!".
Komi looked over her shoulder to see Hippolyta in her casual clothes, tapping her foot, looking up at her with arms crossed, as an Amazon took away her horse, showing that Hippolyta has been out riding, and Komi looked between her desired spot on the library roof and Hippolyta, knowing that she would put Komi in a enforced magical prison if she gets angry with her powers.
With a deep exasperated sigh, Komi floated down to land besides Hippolyta, speaking sarcastically and sassy, "What can I do for you, your highness?".
"Well, for starters... I know your powers are blessed from Apollo's gift and we are all women here, but would you please throw on a robe?", Hippolyta sighed as she closed her eyes before Komi sighed, flew right by Hippolyta in a quick flash and a few seconds, was back with her clothes and starting to put them on.
"Look, if you're gonna bring up the whole thing about Apollo again, I've already told you that I don't mind; if he wants to watch me, more power to me. It's a Tamaran thing at times.", Komi explained once more, but this conversation already was sounding like a repeat of things.
Hippolyta exhaled deeply through her nose, "I do know that, Komi. But you are inviting trouble, and I don't want to see you going through that. It's one thing...with those monsters having experimented on you and treating like you like a slave with Kori, but you have no idea how much trouble you are giving Hera to turn a lot of eyes away.".
Komi replied, "It's just a sun, Hippolyta.", and Hippolyta replied, "I know, but I do not want to anger the gods...Come with me...If you think that the stories in the books and scrolls were interesting, yet don't believe that they were true, it's time for me to show you...And no, don't think about making excuses.", turning into a sad, serious appearance.
Komi blinked, having seen Hippolyta as many things, but she hadn't seen Hippolyta sad, especially when she got love from her people, happy with her daughters and granddaughter, and content with life on the island, and for once, she felt trepidation as she followed Hippolyta to the temple of Hera which is not far from the fountain, and became confused as Hippolyta led her to the back of the temple.
"Taking a wild guess this isn't normal...", Komi guessed as Hippolyta nodded. "Indeed. Komi, my heart goes out for you and your sister about your predicament, but I swear... Hera help me, it's trying my patience...", she admitted.
"Okay, hold on, you got a problem, it's with me, okay? Le-leave Kori out of it; she's just always had a few bad influences... well, me, obviously...", Komi replied with a sheepish wince.
Hippolyta replied with a small smile, "It's good to see you being protective of your sister as it truly looks like working on mending your relationship with her and working in mind healing sessions with Epione has truly been helping you well. And do not worry. It's not Kori I have a problem with, as she has been, yes, somewhat walking with you in public, but far less than you have, and she has been more in the forests or in the bathing halls with my younger daughter which I can accept easily enough. It's you who has been giving me a problem, Komand'r.".
Komi nodded in relief as she never wanted to get Kori in trouble, and asked, "Then why am I here? Where are you taking me to? Okay, I get it that you wanted to show me something, and considering that it's a temple, it's a lesson you are going to teach me, but Hippolyta, I practically read books.".
Hippolyta said nothing as they continued to walk, Komi was wondering if maybe she was wasting her time hanging around Themyscira; sure, man's world had a load of issues, but she could handle herself. She shook those thoughts from her head when Hippolyta finally stopped.
Hippolyta opened an invisible door that blended into the stone, but actually is fake stone on the facade, and there in the small alcove room is a pedestal with a pillow and upon the pillow is a large orb, like a crystal ball.
Hippolyta murmured a prayer in Ancient Greek that Komi recognized as permission, and then Hippolyta took Komi's hand, stepping through a much darker gold shield than the sheer golden shield over the waters and the island of Themyscira, as Komi felt a whoosh of magic through her body, and blinked as the crystal ball suddenly glowed.
"This is all the stories of the Amazons in this very orb, my memories as an eyewitness of everything, merely a copy of them like a book you could say. With a touch and a request of a certain memory, you will be transported, but you are like a ghost through time, unable to change anything.", Hippolyta solemnly explained as she stepped around it reverently with a hint of bittersweet angst and sadness and happiness in her eyes.
Komi exhaled warily, "So, I just touch this? It wouldn't zap me or anything to kill me?", and Hippolyta replied, "No, it's harmless. Few had the honor to witness my memories with me as a guide to explain. Only the closest in my inner circle of Amazons and family thus far, and you are part of my family, Komi.".
Komi snapped her eyes up at Hippolyta in shock and disbelief, "You...you consider me family?...Even after what I have done in hurting my sister's heart and all?", and Hippolyta nodded, "I do...Your parents were blind, Komand'r...They neglected you, they ignored you, they didn't see the potential I see, and that your deepest wish is just to be loved all around...If you were found here earlier, you would have still flown, not on your own, but you could have flown on a flying chariot, on a Pegasus, or the occasional wing-glider of feathers, and you would be greater as a warrior, for we find advantages in weaknesses.".
Komi looked away as she was really starting to feel the guilt hit her, especially after what was said. How much of, as the phrasing goes, a piece of shit, she was being? Especially for the woman that was willing to take her in. Kori was another thing entirely, she knew her sister easily wouldn't have been much trouble for Hippolyta, she was just that way... but her?
She whispered, "I'm not worthy...", and Hippolyta walked around, grasping her hands, "Hey, look at me...Oh, you are worthy, Komi...Did you know that I thought I wasn't worthy either?".
"You? But you're like this powerful, wise, and amazing queen and those Amazons look up to you so much!", Komi looked back at Hippolyta in a turn of her head, her eyes wide, and Hippolyta sadly smiled, "Thank you for saying that, Komi, dear one. But it wasn't always this way...Come touch the orb with me, and you shall see why we preserve modesty out in public and see how I got out personally to fight another day and realize my worth.".
Komi nodded, ignoring her blush at the moment, listening to Hippolyta immediately, walked to the orb closer, and then took a deep breath, and went to touch the orb with a hand, same as Hippolyta, waiting for her to do something.
Komi vaguely knew the reasoning, it's just her and Kori, the last of their people, because of the connection to their sun, their powers, clothing was much more optional in many parts of their society. And of course, there was that dark selfish part of her that loved the trill of showing herself off to the other Amazonians; a species of beings similar to her and a chance to prove her superiority too.
Komi suddenly felt the orb thrum as Hippolyta closed her eyes, and Komi felt the instinct to close her eyes, and before she knew it, she was mentally thrown through and into the orb, holding hands with Hippolyta.
"Woah... what's that word that Carrie knew from her childhood...? Trippy?", Komi wondered as she looked around. "I know, it's a bit hard to wrap the mind around but trust me... keep tight on me as well, especially when we get to moments... you very much will need to know which is the current me and which is me in the past.", Hippolyta explained.
Komi nodded, "Yes, ma'am.", and so, Komi saw some of the most important history around Hippolyta's eyewitness accounts with some of the Amazons, and especially in Hippolyta's personal account, yet she didn't expect to learn a few invaluable lessons, but she did, reacting with emotions that hit her hard. She had seen so much through the war on her home world and being around the monsters, which was one thing, but this was a whole another experience she was seeing through Hippolyta's eyes in those memories, most of them fairly tame, similar to the war on Tamaran, but then it came, the one that scared her straight up.
Hercules. Komi remembered him being mentioned by Carrie that men had him revered as this sort of folk hero, that he was of popular enough memory that had 'recorded' plays, or as she called them, movies, about him that she remembered in her early life. But to the Amazons, hero was the last thing he could ever be describe as... and to Hippolyta... he was the man she hated above all men...
True, there was argument about his name; Hercules, Heracles, in history and such, but it was truly the same man who had betrayed the Amazons, and most of all, humiliated and broke Hippolyta in the worst way possible.
Komi could hear Hippolyta's deep breath next to her when Komi laid eyes on Heracles. Long brown hair, thick beard, and muscles that she was certain made many women swoon over him. She knew well enough that apparently, he was the son of Zeus, but not a child of Hera; that the god sired many children with humans even though Zeus was supposed to be mates with her.
Komi snorted quietly, "He's different than I imagined in the books.", and Hippolyta whispered, "Men's World truly had different perspectives of him here and there, but he's truly the Heracles I cannot entirely forget. Now, you must focus on holding tight to me as we will react, and remember, we are ghosts in the past here, but tell me when you want to leave, is that understood?", with a deep look of angst, despair, sadness, fear, and steady determination of courage, fierce anger, and stern love and protectiveness between Heracles and Komi, knowing that Komi's stubborn, being 18 years old, almost 19 years old.
Komi, having never seen such a storm of emotions on Hippolyta's face unlike before, nodded seriously, "I understand, my queen.", having more respect for her after watching the previous memories earlier.
"Thank you.", Hippolyta nodded; knowing it was painful for her to watch what was about to occur; something that had haunted her in her long centuries of existence.
It was needed though; if what Komi had said before was indeed true, then the two of them actually shared quite a bit more with each other than the young Tamaran princesses though. "You look so different almost...", Komi spoke as Hippolyta nodded.
"I was young, I had great pride... an almost sense of invulnerability, how could I not? In some way, I probably thought same as you have as of late, the envy of women, the lust of men, and Heracles... before what happened, how I thought him quite the prize... the son of Zeus after all, even if his mother was a mortal...", Hippolyta closed her eyes for a moment at the shame of it. How her heart did actually burn for him before the moment he betrayed her...
Komi squeezed her hand, keeping ahold of her, having kept the warning of Hippolyta, and realized that she would need to back out fast if Hippolyta is too pained by particular moments in this memory, wanting to help her like Epione did for her in mind-healing, which is surprising for herself as before, she would have been selfish and left Hippolyta to her terrors, but not anymore, as she is determined to be worthy of Hippolyta's love as she never imagined to have a mother look at her in fierce love again as she kept watching between keeping an eye on Hippolyta and watching the story unfold of the young Hippolyta's memory of Heracles.
Komi watched as the memory took a turn for the worst almost so quickly. Heracles didn't see Young Hippolyta as some proud warrior, or a strong queen, he saw her as another woman that was a prize to be conquered; and in short order, he made that very well known to her as Komi watched the young queen getting overwhelmed quickly by the legendary figure's infamous strength as he begun to rip her clothes off, a clear sign of what his intentions were.
Komi paled so much, getting sick, turning her orangish shade of skin to a sickly yellow shade of skin as it was one thing when she saw Heracles and his friends betray the Amazons with stealing the golden gridle and kidnapping Hippolyta to Athens after working together with the Amazons in a previous war and becoming friends of respect and all on the island.
But this, she turned to Hippolyta, blocking her view as she heard the young Hippolyta's screams of horror, pain, and more, wanting to shut her ears away as she was scared straight. She spoke loudly, "Hippolyta, let's go, you don't need to see this!", seeing Hippolyta freeze and struggling to not flinch when hearing and seeing flashes around Komi's frame.
Komi closed her eyes, but she still couldn't stop the noises, ones that were getting louder as Heracles continued to rape Young Hippolyta. Komi knew she had a deep hatred and distrust for men but never knew why exactly until now where it's so very obvious to her. "Please, Hippolyta! Stop! You need to stop this! Don't torment yourself with it anymore now!". Nothing from her as Komi began to try and shake her back to a sense of control over things. Nothing, no matter how rougher moment by moment it was for her until Komi finally snapped. "MOTHER!", she screamed.
Hippolyta seemed to recoil as her eyes cleared, collapsing into a sob, falling into her knees, and Komi saw the scene change, turning around to see a lot of the Amazons arriving and looking terrifying as an enraged army, fighting Heracles to horrible injuries, forced to run away without the Girdle that was nearby in another room of Heracles' chambers, hearing war happening outside of the Greek house in Athens, realizing that the rest of the Amazons is outside. They are so loyal to Young Hippolyta, intent to rescue their beloved queen and sister.