Kori widened her eyes in stunned awe as Komi was slightly less stunned, but awed just the same, and they kneeled, bowing to Hera, knowing that Hera is Queen, while they are adopted princesses of Themyscira and exiled princesses of Tamaran, replying, "Your Majesty.", in respect.
Hera spoke warmly, "Please rise. I'm pleased of your respect for me. I'm afraid to say that I tried to send Hermes to the best we could in our realm's borders, but we couldn't find your galaxy, let alone Tamaran.", looking apologetic and sad for a moment.
"Well... I'm sure he tried...", Komi sighed. "I didn't realize we were so far away, that our worlds weren't in the same galaxy... our captors must have moved fast...", Kori added.
"Indeed. But even though the vast distances... death very much is quick, and all reach the same place.", Hera had a disappointed look on her face. "You... you met someone we know?", Komi's eyes widened.
A young male voice chirped, "Finally, that felt like forever!", and both sisters gasped, tears in their eyes as they turned around to see a young Tamaran boy of 11 years old, same shade of skin like Kori and Komi, having a darker red tone to his hair which is in messy style, and his eyes are a lighter green shade than Kori's emerald green shade, wearing a purple tank top and trousers with white lining, and black shoes, with green accents, taking after his elder sisters in his own way, through green has been his favorite color, when purple was Kori's favorite color, and black was Komi's favorite color.
"R-Ryan...?", Kori whimpered at the shock of it all; probably from the sudden news that if Ryand'r was in this place, then it meant he was dead.
"Yep.", Ryan smiled. "It... it didn't hurt, before you two either ask... it was thankfully quick.", as he was referring to his death. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep up with you two in the chaos of it all... maybe I would've ended up on Gaia with you though I think Hippolyta might want me to stay put on that Crete Island or something...".
With a chorused sob, the sisters ran like heck, hugging their little brother in a huddle, ruffling his hair and squeezing him madly as they hadn't seen him in years during their imprisonment with their captors.
"Hey, easy, easy!", Ryan chuckled. "I'm okay now...", he told them. "Death's surprisingly pleasant though I'm not suggesting you two join me in it any time soon, you've got lives to live!".
"Sorry...", Kori sniffled as the sisters loosened their grip. "Mother and Father?", she had to ask as Ryan shook his head. "They... they'll never learn even after death... that's why they're not here... they refuse to accept responsibility and apologize for what they did to you, Komi...", Ryan told his eldest sister as Komi closed her eyes and sighed.
"Typical, I suppose it was good for me then not to stop holding onto the hope that they might ever realize their mistake. If I recall, you yourself were a bit of jerk about my crippling condition too though...", Komi replied.
Ryan replied with an ashamed sigh, "What was I supposed to do, Komi? I was only one summer old when you got sick. I had to act like a bit of a jerk with those parents of ours when they were around while I grew up, but I really tried to get you out of the palace sometimes...You were too delighted when I rebelled by sneaking you out to those nudist places, and you had fun in the marketplace when you couldn't resist my puppy eyes for those sweet buns!", with a snicker.
Komi remembered those times and she had to smile, remembering their parents' faces, looking like they got constipated, and she didn't snitch on Ryan either, and he got a point...She can't really blame Ryan since he was only one summer old when she got sick, and he never really got the blunt of her anger because he was innocent, and she knew he was arranged to head to another planet for training as a planet officer, a ranger of sorts, as he was never picked for the throne.
"True... sometimes I forget that... I was just so blinded by my anger and resentment...", Komi said. "At least you're better now.", Ryan smiled. "I've been watching, it really made me happy to see you flying again... even if you were trying to hurt Kori that first time...", rubbing his arm.
Komi sighed, "I was so upset at our captors, and then something just broke, and I felt like I had an old friend back, and I was so angry and determined to fight and escape on my own, getting rid of the captors for good that it just escalated when Kori found me...I would possibly have been overwhelmed if the captors had more backup, perhaps using my anger and resentment to their manipulation...I would never thank Kori enough as if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have the time and the safety to heal, to have love and strength again to hope for a family...".
Kori smiled, rubbing Komi's back, "And now, you're practically welcomed by Hera, and our brother doesn't hate you at all, he just had the bad luck to act for our...estranged parents...Are we really the last of our people, Ryand'r?".
Ryan took a deep breath as he shook his head. "I don't know.", he admitted. "A lot, and I mean a lot of our people joined me not too long afterwards... the numbers... I think Hades himself isn't telling me the truth because he probably thinks it might be too much.".
"Hades tends to keep things to his chest a lot.", Hera spoke up. "But he knows the truth, and I do fear if he's not being forward with the answer with you, then it might be the worst...".
Komi exhaled deeply, "Then we're the last of our people officially as far as we know...", as Kori sniffled, remembering her few friends on Tamaran, and Komi had her turn to rub Kori's back, knowing that they grieved for losing their home at times when they had moments of privacy, but now...she knew she and Kori will make sure of doing a traditional funeral bonfire as they didn't have their people's belongings or bodies to bury.
Ryan replied softly, "I'm sorry, Kori, Komi...but it's really good to see you, if it's only a few minutes...Just promise me that at least you'd keep a few traditions...and never forget me...", with a whisper at the end.
"Never... we would never!", Komi quickly stated. "Not you nor our people!", she sniffled. Komi was feeling a sense of strength and burden hitting her... that it was her people that she should've been standing up for... even if the loss of her powers due to her illness for a time and that Kori was made heir, at the end of the day, she knew she was the one to lead Tamaran, not Kori, and the younger sister knew it... she never wanted to lead, she always thought that Komi was the stronger one to do it.
Ryan gave a wide smile, "I knew you'd be a way better queen...And just you know, some of the other souls laid hard into our people rejecting you and blaming you for many things which was beyond stupid. They realized it after hearing other stories of how some people showed up to be brave and strong despite their tragic events or such. I'm just sorry that it just came to be too little, too late, Komi...You would have been amazing...".
Komi hugged her little brother, "Aww, you will always be my little brother, I love you, Ryan, and don't apologize for them, even if it's good to hear that, and it's all right...It's in the past now...And I have a whole new life now, next to Kori.".
Ryan smiled, "I love you too, big sis!", and then looked at Kori with a smirk, "So, Carrie, huh? I sure wish I was older to get all that love gig, but I'm sure happy for you, even if a bit grossed out-amused when you get all PDA. Some of your friends had to block me at times, but either way, she's really pretty.".
Kori blushed as she smiled. "Yeah... she is... my heart burns with love every moment I'm with her...", she admitted as Ryan chuckled. "Don't lose her then, sis...", he teased as Komi took a deep breath.
"I wish you were still with us...", Komi told him. "We could've saved you...", with a regretting expression. "Don't.", Ryan said. "Chances were that I would've ended up with you... and they would've experimented me like they did with you... I wouldn't have made it through... it was better I died quick.".
Komi exhaled as her little brother has another point there as 11 summer-old Tamaran children has less strength and such technically than 17-19 Tamaran teenagers, and glanced at Kori, "At least our little brother's safe and happy in a good place, eh?".
Kori had to smile at that, and sniffled a bit, "We're going to miss you, little bro...You would have been a great man...I love you, Ryan.", hugging him warmly.
"I love you too, Kori, Komi...", Ryan sniffled as he hugged Kori before Komi joined into the hug. "I love you, Ryan.", Komi added as the family hugged for a few more moments before Ryan broke it.
"You two be good... oh, and Komi... you'll find your own Carrie soon...", Ryan winked as Komi blushed. Komi nodded as Ryan had never lied to her before in all the good times she had with him, and Ryan smiled, "Oh, and before I forget, there's a gift for you two when you get back.".
Komi and Kori looked at each other in wonder before nodding at Ryan, "You got it...You take care of yourself, and don't fuss about our people much, okay?".
Ryan grinned, "You got it! May life guide you, and bid goodbye for so long.", using the traditional Tamaran farewell, and Komi and Kori sniffled, smiling, "Bid goodbye for so long.", and a moment later, Ryan vanished in a white beam.
"How do you feel?", Hera asked the both of them as Komi sighed, "I feel alright... at least a bit pained to know that Ryan, probably the rest of our people too have died... that my parents will never learn their lessons... but... it was good to know at least.".
Kori nodded, "Yeah, same here...I'm very disappointed in our parents, but I should have known better...Their fault that they are bigots...", with a sigh, realizing that their parents wouldn't accept Carrie, being an Earthling than a Tamarian, even with having the skills of an Amazon.
Komi replied, "It's all in the past now, sister. And besides, you have to admit that they would never know what's like to be essentially immortal for the sake of sisterhood and family and love.", with a snarky smirk, being a bit selfish, but it's justified, as their parents had ruined all their children's lives in their ways.
"Yeah.", Kori nodded. "Speaking of which...". The sisters turned to Hera, "I believe that we're here for, hopefully, your gifts if you deem us worthy for them.". Hera chuckled, "Quite humbling... you truly have a gentle soul, Koriand'r, but still possess the fiery spirit equal that of your sisters in Themyscira.".
Kori preened proudly, "Thank you, your majesty.", and Hera smiled, "And as for your powers, you are practically a super Amazon technically. You truly are the other half of Carrie, and you shall be gifted with immortality. Do not use it over others, as it's a sensitive thing to most people out there on Gaia beyond Themyscira. Do you understand, Koriand'r of Tamaran?".
"I do understand with all my heart and on the honor of Themyscira, Queen Hera.", Kori declared with a firm nod. Hera nodded, "Good. I cannot do you two at the same time, but do not be afraid for your sister, and wait patiently.".
Kori nodded, squeezing hands with Komi, trading smiles before Kori breathed deeply, "I'm ready, Queen Hera.", holding her hands out, and Hera took them, "I, Queen Hera, grant this Tamaran the gift of immortality, and have her as a daughter of Themyscira, from this day forward.", and Komi watched with wide eyes as she saw Kori's slight skin glow increase a bit more, seeing magical energy absorb into Kori's skin and body through touch.
A few minutes later, Kori smiled brightly, "That didn't hurt...Felt like being near a warm fire on a cold night...", and Hera smiled, "Live well and farewell, Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran and Themyscira.".
Kori replied, "Live well and farewell, Queen Hera of Mount Olympus.", as she closed her eyes as her forehead and nose touched Hera's forehead and nose, and then Komi saw her vanish in a gold flash.
"Whoa...", Komi whispered in shock as Hera smiled, "She just woke up in the fountain, that's the gospel truth...Does that make you feel less nervous now?".
Komi replied, "A bit, your majesty...But I...I defied you...I must have humiliated you when...when I was rebelling against Mother...Giving you work to avert the gods' sight from me...", giving a sigh as she rubbed her arm.
"Not as much work as you think... Despite his father, my nephew Apollo is, as one would put it, a good boy.", Hera chuckled, "If I tell him to avert his eyes away from Themyscira but continue to shine on it, he'll do it without question. And none of the others would dare risk crossing me, so you never were really putting on an audience, per se, to any of the others... just your fellow sisters.", as she explained.
Komi exhaled in relief, "That's good to hear at least.", glad that she isn't putting herself in danger like Hippolyta, as anyone wouldn't want to get on Hera's bad side. "I'm just glad that my fluctuating powers aren't harming this place or you...I just really need the sun to help fix them, get them adjusted to my newfound outlook on life and all...".
"I know.", Hera nodded. "And I'll be happy to help you with them...". Komi raised an eyebrow. "Really?", she asked.
"Do you doubt my powers?", Hera smirked. "I easily could destroy within a single blink if I so wished.", she told her as Komi blushed, "No, I stopped doubting that sort of thing the other day Mother showed me her... well, you know it all too well.".
Hera nodded with a deep sigh, "Indeed. I've never been prouder of Hippolyta than now as she has come so far. Come, Komand'r of Tamaran, take my hands so I will give you the gift of immortality and my assistance to tune your powers to your potential you have, no more, no less, no need of the sun anymore, though I will not blame you if you keep on that habit to remember Tamaran.", with a wry chuckle.
"Will I still be stronger than Kori? I mean, don't take it as me being greedy with power... I just... when we were little, before my illness, my parents instilled upon me that I needed to be strong for our people. And Kori... I wanted to be strong for her...", Komi admitted.
"You will be stronger than even the great Tamariana leaders of old, Komand'r. You will be the first of the new Tamarians with your sister... a future that you two will shape; and share with your Amazonian sisters...", Hera said.
Komi blinked, liking the dream of it, and then smiled as she stepped closer to Hera, taking a deep breath as she reached out her hands, seeing Hera grasp her hands, "I'm ready.", and Hera smiled gently at her, and then declared, "I, Queen Hera of Mount Olympus, grant Princess Komand'r of Tamaran and Themyscira the gift of immortality, on her honor not to abuse it, and greatly assist in helping adjust her Tamarian powers to her best level of potential, no more, no less, and let it be so, from this day forward.".
Komi started to feel the power flowing through her; her powers slowly starting to stabilize more than she had ever gotten beforehand. It was only a few moments before she opened her eyes as the power began to calm down. "I...", Komi whispered as she was almost speechless at the feeling.
Hera smiled warmly, "I know...You are worthy. Believe in yourself, Komi.", and Komi's eyes began to swell up in tears, nodding with a bright smile, "Thank you...".
"You're very much welcome. Live well and farewell, Princess Komand'r of Tamaran and Themyscira.", Hera hummed, and Komi replied, "Live well and farewell, Queen Hera of Mount Olympus.", leaning her forehead and nose, closing her eyes as Hera touched with her forehead and nose.
A moment later, she came out of the fountain with a deep gasp of breath, panting as Kori held her back up, "Sister? Are you alright?", as Komi sat up.
Komi started to smile, "Actually, I'm better than ever...", lifting a hand up, and like usual, she lighted up her hand, yet to her shock, hearing Kori's gasp and the nearby Amazons' gasps, for her deep black/blue energy has changed to a vibrant silver/purple energy, showing the change of Komi's outlook on her new life.