4447/ZZGU: Themyscira

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ZZGU: Themyscira
Date of Scene: 21 December 2020
Location: Themyscira City
Synopsis: A new name, a new home, a new future. The fallen Kara Zor-El of another Earth has been granted the mercy of the Amazons. Zosime will learn to be a new person, one better suited to her name, one that honors the House of El instead of desecrates it. Themyscira on another world learns that the future of their entire world is in their hands.
Cast of Characters: Kara Danvers, Donna Troy, Caitlin Fairchild, Diana Prince, Hippolyta




Kara Danvers has posed:
    Troia's idea of talking to the Amazons of this world made a lot of sense. They'd have been protected - right? they probably wouldn't have gone insane too - right? And who else could look after Dark Kara Zor-El than people just as strong. SHIELD had set up a small base of operations on the other side of the portal between our Earth and their Earth.

    The planet was a warzone and it wasn't safe to travel far without protection. But they needed to get the cure out to people, to free them from their compulsion to love a ZZGU. Now that the monster is gone, they can move on with their lives.

    A quinjet had been lent to Supergirl and her friends for the mission. A female agent is in the pilot seat, Agent Heaven Truflight. She is keeping to herself as they group flies across the oceans of this foreign world. No one wants to get stuck here, that's for sure. She pipes up, "I'll need coordinates soon," she casually says hoping someone actually knows where they're going.

    Supergirl is watching over Dark Kara Zor-El who is a pile on the floor at the center of the quinjet. She has been quietly sobbing to herself since she become conscious after Power Girl punched her lights out and Supergirl injected the cure in to her arm. Kara isn't quite sure what to say to her doppelganger.. what can you tell another version of yourself that has been on a murdering and conquering spree for over a decade? It disquiets her.. that this could have been her. This is her.. in another life.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna too has been quiet for much of the journey. As the Quinjet flies across Europe, getting closer and closer, she feels a rising nervousness. The changes that took place in this world took place well before she was born, well before she was (as she believes) washed up on the shores of Themyscira and adopted by Queen Hippolyta. Almost certainly none of that will have happened in this universe. She is going home, but she will be a stranger there. Her own mother will not recognize her.

    All of which is assuming there is even a home here. No, the theory is that this universe barely diverged from their own until the arrival of ZZGU, so there must surely be a Themyiscira here - but in what condition will this Themyscira be, after four decades of the Earth being dominated by ZZGU? What of her family - of this universe's Hippolyta and Diana? Are they alive? And if so - how will this group be received?

    "It's not as simple as that, Agent Truflight," Donna tells the pilot. "If I could just give you coordinates, then Themyscira would not have remained a secret for so long. Just keep going and when you hit the Island of Skyros just keep on a north-easterly bearing and I'll tell you where to go when it becomes apparent."

    She sighs softly and looks down at the sobbing form of Dark Kara, bound tightly in her lasso, then her eyes go up to the other Kara, the one from their own world. She gives her friend a sympathetic smile. "When we have time, we should talk. The last few months must have been hard on you. I am sorry that I was not able to be there for you."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin's in the navigator's seat, aiding Truflight by keeping an eye on the scanners and mapping the course to the Aegean. The ship's VI is certainly adquate for the task but a set of human eyes are always welcome.

Plus it keeps Caitlin from having to look at Dark Kara, who is a relentless font of anguished pain and despair. The empathetic young redhead clearly is aware of the conflict coming off the two Amazon sisters and the Kryptonian women.

A mental prayer of gratitude is offered; there's little chance Caitlin will find a doppleganger in this timeline. The divergencies were simply too great.

"Donna, I think I see the cloudbanks," Caitlin calls back. On the horizon are a set of ominous looking dark clouds. It's a significant mental effort for Caitlin to focus on them, let alone steering the ship towards it. Truflight yelps in protest.

"It'll be okay, Truflight," Caitlin tells the agent. "Why don't you go in the back, I'll handle the approach. It's a little scary if you've never done it before." Fighting all animal instincts, Caitlin deliberately steers the quinjet towards the looming clouds. Themyscira is not a place that people 'stumble into', and for good reason.

Kara Danvers has posed:
    "This isn't exactly the way I had hoped to first visit Themyscira...," she says breaking her silence and then smiles kindly to Troia. "You were lost in space, so, we had to make do without you. The Titans held together.. it's better now you're back, but I have missed you both," her eyes look to Caitlin too, "very very much." Her gaze returns to Dark Kara on the floor, "Hah, and you come back only to jump straight in to this ...mess."

    Agent Truflight twists her lips in silent protest at being told they will navigate by the feel of the thing, the vibe of it. But hey, this is the mythical location of the Amazons. She's not going to argue over it. She was given orders to stay in the Quinjet. SHIELD wasn't going to risk sending a male pilot.

    Disturbed by the storm ahead and Caitlin's suggestion she go in the back, she turns her head to look at Caitlin and rolls her eyes. "You must be kidding Dr. Fairchild, a front row seat? I'm not missing this for all the ...apparently two worlds." No one has told her yet there's more than just two realities.

Donna Troy has posed:
    "South-southeast Cait," Donna suggests. It's really not obvious why she says it - even Kara's superior vision cannot pierce the cloud-banks sufficiently to see anything clear beyond, though the clouds do seem a little denser there.

    "Agent Truflight, you are well-named and your piloting this far has been exemplary, but trust Caitlin here. She's a great pilot and has been to Themyscira before - at least on our world. The approach to the island is not conventional. It is easier to reach it if you have been there before." She flashes an apologetic smile towards the SHIELD agent and whispers the dread word "Magic," with a slight shrug.

    "We missed all of you," she tells Kara. "A lot. I was never comfortable with the plan to be honest. Leaving you to help Kal with those other Kryptonians made /sense/, but I hated it. Hated having you without any other Titans. It felt like abandoning you." She draws in a slow sigh. "And we didn't know how the plan had worked out, back on the ground. Three months stuck inside that bizarre place and a day didn't go by when I didn't worry about you, Kara."

    Donna looks down at the dark mirror Kara on the floor. "Not you," she says to the defeated tyrant, not really caring if her words are listened to. "But who knows what the future holds. It's not too late for you. I hope where we are headed is where you can find your redemption. A little more south, Caitlin."

    She's not even looking out the window when she says it - this truly is navigation by instinct, but it seems to work. Slowly a dark shape appears looming in the clouds. "Do not land immediately. If we've got the fuel to spare, ideally we should hover just off the beach. Cait, come in on the south side of the mountain, past the arena and out onto the flat beach there. We'll be seen coming in and they'll be able to come meet us quickly."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"Roger that, adjusting vector to 145 for a southerly approach. Hang on, we're in for some chop," Caitlin advises the crew. The Quinjet plunges into the clouds and a sudden and abrupt amount of shearing forces assault the vessel. Lightning crackles ominously and a sense of dread permeates the cabin. Caitlin sets her jaw to push past the mystical resistance and keeps the flight vector firmly locked.

The clouds abruptly evaporate, not visible in any direction. It's a clear and sunny day in Greece, it seems, and Caitlin brings the Quinjet around with a capable hand and visible relief on her features. The course passes wide around Themyscira once and she dips the wings towards a visible observational post.

"Criminey, Donna, you seeing those AA turrets?" she mutters. The vessel is being tracked by the weaponry on the ground-- it seems almost offensive to Caitlin's eyes to see Themyscira's soil so heavily armed.

There's not much they can do but transmit a friendly IFF signal and try to fly casual, with weapons powered down. Caitlin approaches the southerly beach and brings the Quinjet into a low hover there, not quite landing as it holds a meter off the ground. "If this goe sideways, I'm gonna punch it and get out over the ocean low, Donna. Let me know if we can park or give me the signal to bail if it looks like they're not welcoming guests."

Diana Prince has posed:
As the Quinjet settles further in to the airspace above Themyscira's waters, the island looks-- at its core, as it should --but there is the obvious presence of things that do not belong here, not by their very nature at all.

AA turrets are setup along the cliff sides, as Caitlin picks up, but when the Quinjet gets over the ridge and to see the main cove of the island's heart, a very obvious presence becomes visible.

A new bridge has been built from the white sandy beaches, extending out over the sparkling blue waters where it connects with a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier...

The aging air craft carrier sits mostly motionless in the water, with its hull scarred visibly by scorch marks from former battles, and on the deck of the ship there's only one visible helicopter sitting beside one visible F-14 Tomcat. The rest of the deck has been converted into a series of wood and stone buildings, an actual shanty town built upon the vessel's flight deck.

People can be seen milling about on the deck as well, and with the Quinjet's arrival, the sounds of horns begin to blare across the island... the Amazons are aware of the Quinjet's presence within their air space, so it would seem...

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Kara's eyes widen a moment. It had really been that long hadn't it? she had been on Earth fighting Dru-Zod, Ursa, and co. They had been up in space. It hadn't dawned on her until this very moment that the last they knew she was fighting her own kind. She nibbles her bottom lip and glances at Dark Kara and says, "There is a lot to talk about. A lot happened while you were gone. Even during that battle." It's possible they don't even know that Zod took the Bottled City of Kandor from them.

    She looks back to her dark haired sobbing doppelganger and says to Troia, "I don't think she's really listening. Since I injected her with the cure, she is free from the mental compulsions - she's probably thinking about all the things she did." She knows she would be. "And I agree, I hope she can find some peace in Themyscira."

    She looks over to the several large containers of cure for ZZGU's mind control they're ferrying with this trip. The bumps she feels through her whole body. Magic. Ugh. Agent Truflight is more curious about the magic than Kara is. Kara is keenly aware that magical weapons can hurt her in horrible horrible ways.

    When they enter the hover she rises and says, "I hope this doesn't go sideways. We don't have the ability to help our own world -and- this world at the same time. They're our best bet." She walks to the rear of the quinjet and presses the button to open the bay door up. With her hands on her hips, her blonde hair and red cape whip at the sudden introduction of Themysciran air.

Donna Troy has posed:
"Cait, hand controls back to Agent Truflight and come back here, we need everyone ready," Donna says. "We have no idea what we're dealing with, but they have spent forty years under ZZGU here, we should expect changes."

    And what changes. The giant aircraft carrier in the bay has Donna transfixed, and she tears her eyes away from it with difficulty, her mind rolling with the consequences of it all. When Kara opens the loading bay doors, Donna goes to join her, standing there to wait the inevitable greeting party. It soon becomes obvious that Donna had something specific in mind in suggesting this particular angle of approach to the beach - the sun is behind the Quinjet and the loading bay is in shadow. Donna wants the Amazons to not be entirely sure what they are seeing at first, so they have a bit of time to think. Her sword remains sheathed at her hip, her shield stays slung on her back, but she rolls up her sleeves to reveal the shining braclets of Themysciran steel.

    "Kara, remember that the people here will have reason to be very suspicious of you. Don't do anything sudden. No surprises. Cait, remember that they don't know you, and they probably don't know me either. But let me handle the first introductions."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin hands controls back to Truflight and moves to flank Donna's position at the drop doors. She reaches over and gives Kara's arm a gentle squeeze, and flashes a reassuring smile at the Kryptonian. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Kara," she says quietly. "But I'm praying hard we can help them, too."

Her heavy backpack's picked up and held loosely in one hand at her side, filled with enough essentials to make a prolonged voyage more comfortable if necessary. Her drone clings to the outside of the pack with wings folded outside and glossy optical sensors scanning in multiple directions at once.

She also stays close enough to help Kara wrangle her dark doppleganger, if necessary. It's going to complicate things plenty with Donna /and/ Kara showing up-- having one more person firmly monitoring the captive Kryptonian can only help improve the optics of the situation at hand.

Diana Prince has posed:
It doesn't take very long at all for the forces of the Island's army to start to make themselves visible. It happens all across the cliff sides and soon there-after the horses of the main brigade begin to descend from within the heart of the island's center. The warrior women of Themyscira appear to be quite alive, and quite well, riding in in greater numbers than the forces of the island that Donna and Caitlin know, in fact.

If they look toward Themyscira City too, they'll see that the city itself is almost twice the size of what they know it to be. The western edge extends all the way down the mountains deep in to where the Enchanted Forest's normally rests.

The population has been... increasing, clearly. Donna might know that this is a implemented tactic for a Themyscira facing a long war, to try and bolster the island's populace to build the army bigger.

It seems they've enacted it, and it seems they've done well. The horse mounted riders are pouring down toward the direction of the hover Quinjet in the thousands now.

On the Aircraft Carrier, people are starting to gather in bulk too, looking in the direction of the hovering jet. From the bridge that connects the Carrier to the island, a small force of horses are riding along the grand bridge, changing toward the island's shores now themselves...

It seems they have quite a large welcoming party... No sign of Hippolyta or Diana amongst them yet though.

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Agent Truflight takes the flight back in her capable hands and holds them steady where they are. "Give me a shout if we need to try and get out of here in a hurry."

    Kara double takes at Troia's words, "I.. hadn't even thought of that." She is so used to being welcome everywhere she goes that the notion on this world she looks like the villain. She draws in a deep breath to steel herself and then nods, "Right. Time to face the music then. We're all strangers to them."

    An old air craft carrier was not what she had in mind when she thought of Themyscira, but then she knows so little about the place. The beautiful architecture though catches her eye. "Here's hoping someone here will believe us," she looks to Caitlin and Troia and says, "Good luck to us all. Let's go." There's no way to do this but to rip the band-aid off. She lifts gently off the ramp and floats out over the beach, "We come in peace."

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna glances towards Caitlin and Kara, and nods her head a little. "This is a good sign," she says. The sheer quantity of Amazons heading this way might make that seem like an optimistic statement, and one might wonder who she's trying to persuade, but she gives a short nod of her head. "They are prepared for war. For seige. This means their resistance was never broken. Caitlin, hold back for now with our prisoner."

    She floats alongside Kara, waiting for the first few lines of horsewomen to arrive in front of them on the beach. "Don't touch the ground until I say," she whispers. As the first lines of horsewomen come to a halt on the beach, Donna greets them with a clash of bracelets - the traditional Themysciran salute. She follows Kara's greetings with one of her own, but unlike Kara she speaks the words in Themysciran Greek.

    <<We salute you, Amazons of Themyscira!>> she calls out, her voice high and confident. <<We swear in the name of the patrons that we bring no war to these shores. We bring gifts and we bring unprecedented tidings. If you think you recognize us, we are not who we seem. We ask your leave to set foot on this blessed soil, and request an audience with Queen Hippolyta. She will want to hear our tidings.>>

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin just tries to look competent and unobtrusive. It's in Donna and Kara's hands now. Her grip shifts to wrangle the lasso binding Dark Kara's arms while the other two Titans make with the introductions.

Her green eyes cut sideways towards Kara's doppleganger and her grip on the rope tightens just a little. "Don't do anything dumb," she whispers. As Donna and Kara float out, Caitlin advances to the lip of the landing ramp so the Amazons can clearly see that the prisoner has been effectively restrained. ZZGU's chief herald, even bound by magical rope, is the sort of threat that people are probably going to react to poorly.

Diana Prince has posed:
The army of the Amazons rides on to the shore and forms an impressive charging line not too far, but still far enough, away from the hovering Quinjet to be prepared for what the Jet might intend, let alone its passengers which are disembarking now.

The armored women all stare up at the two who disembark the plane, as the riders from the Aircraft Carrier arrive on the shove and make their way to flank the much larger force of warrior women. These riders, are all uniformed men. US Military, some Canadian, some British and many other countries, though the US numbers are the visibly dominant. They're all carrying rifles and guns of some variety too, unlike their female counterparts who are appropriate armed with Themysciran weaponry.

As Donna's greeting is called out, the Amazon women all raise their eyes to be locked upon her. But none reply.

What comes next are different senses that strike Kara and Donna, as well as Caitlin and Truflight inside the jet.

Donna and Kara feel a rush of wind from behind them, along with a powerful feeling of flowing force within the air above the Quinjet.

Caitlin, and those within the jet, hear the sounds of something 'clopping' down upon the hull of the Quinjet...

When Donna and Kara turn to look, they'll see upon the top of the Quinjet... Wonder Woman, armored in Golden Eagle attire, helmet and golden wings. She's staring down at the two women, while mounted on a very recognize creature. The winged horse of Pegasus.

"Who. Are you?" Diana asks down to Donna, her Athena-gifted blade held in her hand, as her winged white stead spreads his wings and flows them through the air again to send another wave of warm Themysciran air flowing down across the hull of the Quinjet.

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Dark Kara Zor-El looks up for the first time of the whole trip. Long black hair hangs down over her face and she peers at Caitlin for a a moment. "I...," she begins to say and her voice fades away. She drops her head and stares back to the ground, unable to finish the sentence.

    The interior of the quinjet shakes from the unexpected winds of Themyscira, turbulence. Truflight pulls on the stick and taps on buttons rapidly, "Whoa, what was that?" clopclop, "that sounds like there's a horse on our roof..."

    Kara turns slowly around and stares in wonder at the Wonder Woman of this world. This meeting of peoples is tense. Guns and swords and spears and shields. She's really glad Troia speaks the lingo. "Diana," she says with a touch of relief in her voice. Though, her voice and visage are doubtlessly not a relief for any of the Amazonians. "Troia I thought you said there were no men in Themyscira?"

    "Princess Diana. My name is /Kara Zor-El/," Kara says though she expects Troia is the most interesting person here at the moment. She quickly adds though, "Ah but not the Kara.. er. Look. We're from a different version of Earth," she says with a choppy hand motion, "This is all very complex. If you'd give us the chance to explain."

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna lays a hand gently on Kara's arm, and gives it a squeeze. "This is not the Themyscira I know, Kara," she whispers. "Much has happened here that has not happened on our world". Then she floats upwards until she is at Diana's eye-level. She spreads her arms wide, showing she is carrying no weapons - and revealing the bracelets of Aegis on her wrists. She responds to Diana's question in slowly chanted Themyisciran.

<<The pained heart cannot heal,>>

<<The passion betrayed will not forgive.>>

<<Thus lend your ear to all and strive to be>>

<<A balsam to assuage the violence of the soul.>>

    After the recital is complete, she switches to English, for the benefit of those not of Themyscira. "I am one who knows the Laws of Aphrodite, Diana of Themyscira." She draws a sudden ragged breath - to speak to her sister like this, as if she was a stranger - it's obvious to Kara and Caitlin that it's costing her. "In Aphrodite's name, I bid you listen to our words. We bring a balsam for the soul and for the minds of all those in this world who have been afflicted by the creature that has brought so much pain and violence. We bring news that will gladden your hearts. We bring you as a prisoner the one who has brought so much pain to this Earth. We bring you a future that has until today seemed no more than a distant hope, and we bring you a mission of peace, an opportunity for you to at last fulfil the mission of the Patrons."

    "Yes, the one who stands beside me is Kara Zor-El of Krypton. But she is not the one who has been tyrant to this world these long and painful years. We have come from another universe, an Earth similar yet different from this Earth, to bring aid to you. The beast that has had an unshakable grip on this world these past decades..." she pauses a moment, clearly going for dramatic effect, and looks around at the gathered crowd, raising her voice... "IS DEFEATED."

    " The Kara Zor-El of this world that has, under that beast's sway, brought such terror...." Troia gestures towards Caitlin, where she stands with the bound figure in the loading bay, encouraging her to come forwards. "That Kara Zor-El, that tyrant who has terrorized so many, we bring to you as a prisoner, knowing that your strength is the strength that can guard her, and your compassion is her only chance at redemption. For she has in her power that can help to undo the damage she has wrought. Diana of Themyscira, I ask you again, in peace and in the name of the Patrons, may we step foot on the soil of this blessed isle?"

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana's eyes sweep between both of the women. She's all too familiar with Kara, though she's not an idiot, she can tell that something about this Kara is not the same as the one she knows. Does that imply she trusts this one? No, it means that there is an unknown Amazon Warrior floating beside her, who Diana is rather interested in finding out more about...

When Donna gives her speech, Diana is patiently attentive to it. Pegasus whuffs and snorts as he-- inversely --impatiently idle-steps on top of the Quinjet and impacts it with hoof falls like he doesn't enjoy the feeling of the jet's hull beneath his feet.

Donna relays quite a lot of information there, and in response, she slides her sword in to a sheath on her hip then lunges back off of Pegasus, as the horse suddenly raises his front legs and flows his mighty wings!

Pegasus launches in to the sky, a shadow crossing over Donna and Kara's forms! The legendary horse flies up in to the air... and Diana now stands on golden heeled armored boots walking toward the aft-end of the Jet, sword gone, and lasso now out.

"Submit to me." Diana says, her eyes on Donna. "Submit to my lasso." She says it, and swings the divine rope in the air as it snaps to life with a golden glowing heat! But it doesn't lash out at Donna, it lashes out at KARA!

"Is what this Warrior says to be of truth and honesty?" Diana asks, should she ensnare the Good Kara's form!

Kara Danvers has posed:
Kara really didn't know what to expect from Themyscira. The flowy words from Troia bring a small smile to her lips. More greek lessons required, she reminds herself. It's one thing to try not to be on edge.. but she remembers the warning - no sudden movements. There is a visible wince as Troia describes the other Kara Zor-El as bringing terror to this world. It's not her.. but it's her. It's hard to deny that link.

    The snap of that golden lasso lashing out through the air at her brings a surprised little squeeeak from the girl of steel and her eyes wide. She feels it pin her arms to her side tightly and that magical energy pulsing off of it against her blue and armor.

    She looks with much concern to Caitlin, then to Troia as she remembers what Diana told her about it on their world. That one must speak the truth. She has many things to keep from people, even on this world.. but what other chance does she have to convince Diana that they truly come in peace.

    With a grimace she dips her head a touch and says, "Every word she speaks is the truth." She rubs her lips together, a touch of colour in her cheeks. This.. THIS is embarrassing. "/... udol rroshis/," she says in Kryptonian for Caitlin's ears ...this could go badly.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin flinches when the lasso flickers out and ensnares Kara. She can't resist the tension flickering through her shoulders; it's a readiness for violence, albeit conflicted by the sight of Not-Diana assailing Kara with the lasso.

Perhaps it's something in Diana's face that triggers that response from Caitlin.

But the redhead is well-disciplined, and more importantly, is holding Dark Kara prisoner. Caitlin's faith in Donna's ability to protect Kara shines through here and she just focuses on keeping Dark Kara from doing anything unpredictable-- or at least staying close enough to hurt her badly if she tries.

She blinks at the murmur from Kara, trying to process the words. She hesitates, then leans towards Kara. "Your... goat cheese?" she hazards.

Caitlin's Kryptonian might be a little rusty from disuse.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Troia's eyes widen in surprise when the lasso lashes out - and Kara is the target, not herself. The lasso, she had been expecting, waiting for it even. But why would Diana not ask /her/ to submit to the Lasso of Truth? All this can prove is that Kara believes what Troia is saying, not that what Troia is saying is the truth.

    But maybe that's enough. Her words had been carefully chosen to speak to the Themysciran in Diana. She had quoted Aphrodite's Law, the rules that govern and define the Amazon cause, that shape their approach to the world. She had spoken in terms that would appeal to this Amazon audience. She speaks in the language of the Amazons, and she wears the bracelets of the Amazons. Yet while she'd introduced Kara, she had not introduced herself beyond that statement that they came from another world. Diana's wisdom would no doubt see that Troia was announcing herself an Amazon of this other world, yet one Diana did not recognize from her own world. Diana's wisdom might well let her see that Troia was avoiding something, and she may have felt that it was, at least for now, best to allow that something be avoided.

    As the glowing rope wraps around Kara, Troia gives her an encouraging smile and a nod, a 'go on' gesture. When the words are spoken, she turns back to Diana, expectant. "The fires of Hestia do not burn her, Diana. She speaks the truth - and so do I. A scientist on our world has developed a cure for the madness of the mind that the beast brought with it. We bring that cure to you. With the aid of this same cure, we have defeated the beast and cast it into the depths of space. But there is more - there is still much of the madness in this world, and if that madness is left, it will burn the world. I see that you have gathered much strengh here on Themyscira. The strength, with the aid we have brought you, to reclaim your world and to quench the fires of Ares."

Diana Prince has posed:
The lasso is unwound from Kara's body and drawn back where it swirls and spins its way right up Diana's left arm, rapidly ensnaring her own body. She has nothing to hide, she doesn't fear the power of her own lasso. Her eyes leave Kara and go back to Donna before she raises her right hand.

A few moments later and the wigned form of Pegasus once more sweeps in and down to buzz the cockpit canopy of the Quinjet! Its hooves impact the hull of the plane as it trots toward the Princess, and comes to stand beside her, curling it's wings in upon itself...

Diana reaches for the saddle of the legendary horse, grasp a golden spear from a leather sheath that she draws out from within. Pulling the spear to her side, she impacts its butted-end against the top of the jet.

"Land this vessel." Diana commands then. "Empty those within it, so that it might be inspected. This Prisoner that you speak of? They will be taken in to custody. The cure you speak of?"

Diana steps forward then and drops off of the jet to hover with the others until they are all landed upon the white sands of the Themysciran shore. "The Queen must hear of it. You will tell her yourselves of this." She eyes Kara for a second before her stare sweeps once more to Donna. "Your story is one I wish to hear too... afterward."

Once the jet, and the new arrivals are on the shores of the beach, a voice calls out from not far away. Two horses have ridden close, one mounted by an Amazonian Warrior in ornamentally beautiful armor, and the other is mounted by a man in a Captain's uniform, with the name 'Trevor' worn on a tag over his left breast.

"Diana?" The Captain says. "Who are these people?" He asks.

With Pegasus landing, the Princess moves toward the horse. "We are about to find out." She replies to him.

Kara Danvers has posed:
--- some time passes, as the group moves to meet Queen Hippolyta ---

Hippolyta has posed:
The Queen of the Amazons has many responsibilities, no matter the timeline or universe. This particular version of her, however, has an enormous burden on her shoulders. The Amazons, by default, often assume that the world outside of the confines of their idyllic islanjd is a violent and savage world. It is one thing to assume, and it is an entirely different thing to know with certitude that Man's World has torn itself apart and devolved itself to that most fearsome nature, red in tooth and claw. It is the difference between the nebulous survival of hope without and the certainty of its death, and the bleakness of the notion that beyond these hallowed horizons, it was over.

Perhaps hope could be reborn. Had not the seven sisters become uplifted into the heavens themselves, and had not Orpheus been spared from the fate of death without death by celestial graces? Had not Apollo preserved his lover Hyacinthus by transforming him into a flower, when his mortal form could not be sustained after a fatal injury? It may be, Hippolyta muses, that even when all is ash and ruin, it may not be possible to bring the world back, but bring something else in its memory.

The Queen is shaken from her thoughts by the news that the newcomers at at the gates to her council chamber and she rises, regal and resplendent. Care has done the impossible for an immortal: created the illusion of age about her, careworn expression showing weariness where wrinkles cannot exist.

"Let the outsiders enter," she says with a deep, resonant voice. Hippolyta, The Queen of the Amazons, is holding court.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna's eyes widen when she notices the nametag on Captain Trevor's breast, and she cannot help herself glancing briefly in Diana's direction, but quickly averts her gaze. As the party prepares to make their way to the palace and the meeting with Queen Hippolyta, she speaks quickly in Themysciran to the Amazon guards sent to search the jet, warning them to be careful of the crates full of cure.

    Donna is distinctly subdued on the journey to the palace, and seems to lost in her thoughts to be really taking things in. There is some part of her mind that is taking in all the differences between this Themyscira and the one she knows, but those details are filed away for later consideration rather than being thought about now. As the group makes its way up the winding paths to the city and on to the acropolis, she walks almost under automatic pilot; it will be apparent to Diana and the guards that this stranger already knows the way. There's no effor to hide it - Donna's gone way past that point already.

    When they arrive at the palace though, that sense of confident knowledge leaves her entirely. She hangs back, staying close to Dark Kara and her lasso, unable to meet Hippolyta's gaze.

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Indominus Kryptonian Kara Zor-El, aka Dark Kara, walks sullenly by Troia's leash. Her head down, her shoulder slumped. Her black cape somehow sullenly dangling around her ankles too. She is not defeated by the mighty blow Power Girl gave her, nor by the cure that cleared ZZGU out of her mind and body by Supergirl. She is defeated by the thoughts and memories of her actions. She makes no fuss in Troia's lasso.

    Kara Zor-El's eyes are wide and her head is swivelling constantly as she takes in this new culture. It is on a war footing, that is completely sure and true, but still it is Themyscira. Diana of her own world has invited her there; this Diana doesn't really know her at all. It is strange to stare at a face you know quite well, who is on a superhero team with you, but know that as they look back they see nothing but a copy of a war criminal.

    Kara keeps her hands tucked behind her back as she follows the procession along and they are brought in to meet Hippolyta. Unlike the Dark Kara, this Kara smiles to her and places a hand over her heart with a short bow in recognition of her station.

Diana Prince has posed:
They had been surrounded by mounted Amazons on the ride in to Themyscira. Diana had been quiet most of the ride, through Captain Trevor had joined her to ride alongside her for the journey.

When they arrived, the main group of warriors fell back and held a line at the face of the palace's entrance, while the main group of Diana, Trevor, and the highest ranked Amazons escort their guests into the palace proper, and to the Queen.

Of course, along the way, Diana gave 'looks' toward Donna specifically. But her time to question this woman wasn't yet here, it would have to come after the Queen's decree on what to do here and now.

When the Queen's orders usher them inside, the doors part, the group strides in and Diana walks toward her mother. Diana gives a soft bow to her mother before she motions to the visitors. "They have come, with... unexpected revelations." Diana tells Hippolyta. Her eyes go to Kara-good, and to Donna, who she knows will catch the eye of Hippolyta as well.

Letting them do their own speaking, however, Diana steps to the side of the throne room where she is met by Trevor on her right and a young teenage girl in golden armor who stands up from her own chair to take Diana's other side... she looks a lot like Diana too, and her eyes are on the newcomers with great curiosity.

Hippolyta has posed:
Hippolyta's eyes sweep over the newcomers, and the wideness of her glance increases almost imperceptively when a facsimile of the dreaded enemy smiles openly and without threat. She takes in the enigmatic woman who holds the fallen enemy in bondage, and then her brow furrows. She briefly looks towards the teenage girl and Diana, as well as the man by her side, before turning her attention to the newcomers. The strange visitors disquiet the queen, it is clear. She does not return Kara's smile, but at least she is not openly hostile to her, choosing to examine her with caution.

"By Hestia, I charge you to speak the truth," she says to Kara Zor-El, "and disclose to us your identities and your purpose on this island. Know that within this sacred precinct of the gods you are called to honor the spirit of truth, and that there are means by which falsehoods are routed and punished in the light of Hestia's glow."

Her attention passes from Kara, to Donna, and then lingers on Dark Kara for a moment before she continues, "Let us hear the developments that you have brought with you."

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Kara has only heard stories of Hippolyta. She wonders if she looks the same on their Earth. A small glance is given to Donna as that word is used again - Hestia. Magic. She nods her head to Hippolyta, "My name is Kara Zor-El, daughter of Zor-El and Alura Zor-El. Last daughter of Krypton. It is my honor to inform you that the creature known as Zhed'Zhud'Ger'Uth has been defeated and sent to space."

    She rests her hands upon her hips as she tends to do and says, "We are from another version of Earth, a different timeline. One where ZZGU never arrived. One where many things happened differently. Some people from this world crossed over to ours and attempted to bring the monster to our world."

    "Heroes and scientists banded together to find ways to stop ZZGU. We had the privilege of many more years of development and also forewarning of this creature to aid us. A brilliant scientist from our world has developed a cure for the devotion ZZGU instills in its victims. We have brought many crates of it in the hopes that you and your army will be able to distribute it before it is too late."

    She motions to Dark Kara next and says, "This.. my doppelganger. I suppose, another sister.. she has been mislead first by her mentor Zod." This mention has the Dark Kara Zor-El lift her eyes suddenly and she opens her mouth, but says nothing. Kara continues, "And was then infected deeply by ZZGU's mind control to act as its champion."

    Kara holds out her other hand, "I ask for your mercy to help her find a new path under your guidance, to help rebuild this world which she helped destroy." She looks back to Troia and whispers, "Did I forget anything?"

Donna Troy has posed:
    "Your daughter has already tested my companion with her lasso, /Wanassa/," Troia says. Her voice is strong and confident, her Themysciran accent clear for all to hear, but her eyes remain averted. "Hestia's fires will not burn those who speak only the truth. Kara Zor-El speaks the truth. On our Earth - the universe from which we come, she is a very different personal than her double in this world of yours..." she gestures towards the bound figure. "In our world she is known as Supergirl, and she is a hero. She is one of the purest souls I know, and she is my friend."

    Donna flashes Kara an encouraging smile before continuing. "We traveled from our Earth to your Earth to aid you, but also this has become a very personal mission of my friend because of the harm that her opposite number here has caused. Great Queen, it is my belief that this Kara Zor-El of your world may not be, at heart, the villain you believe her to be. If she is anything like the Kara Zor-El I know, she is filled with regret at the harm she has caused under the creature's malign influence. I hope that one day she will prove to you that this is so, and she can seek ways to turn her strength to good, to make up for the damage she has done - and if she is never able to redeem herself in the eyes of Earth, I hope she can, in time, come to forgive herself, and find redemption in her own eyes."

    "The Earth from which we come is a peaceful place compared to your Earth, but it has problems of its own. We have come to your world's aid because we could, but we have our own Earth to tend, our own universe. We hope our aid may be the thing that frees you to bring peace to your world. The beast is gone, its captain our prisoner, who we give over to your care. Our people are distributing a cure for the mind control around the world, but we have also brought supplies of this cure to you, who we hope will be the shepherds this world needs, to bring to it your compassion and your wisdom, the blessing of the Goddesses to whom this island is dedicated."

Diana Prince has posed:
Trevor, Diana and the young teenaged girl all look upon the visitors as the Queen addresses them. The exchange of information has everyone looking from speaker to speaker, but it's Donna's words that ultimately land hardest with the young girl beside Diana.

She steps forward, and speaks, before Diana can intervene. "This Supergirl, on your world, is the killer of countless innocent lives on our."

"Stephanie--" Diana says, reaching out to touch the girl's arm. Stephanie looks back to her. "I have something to say, mother." She tells Diana who draws in a breath, and glances to the Queen.

Stephanie continues, pointedly not looking at Hippolyta. "We cannot accept her here. She is the thing of nightmares to the people of our world. The bringer of death, sorrow, and utter ruin."

"That is enough." Diana says to her daughter, taking her by the arm and standing forward beside her again. "My apologies." Diana says to Hippolyta, to their guests, then glances down to her daughter.

Trevor? Well, he just clears his throat and reaches a hand up to scratch the back of his neck, nervously.

Hippolyta has posed:
Hippolyta listens, and although the matter is grave there is the imperceptible lightening of her expression at Stephanie's interjection and Diana's reaction. There is a silent gaze between mother and daugher, one that says 'Now you know', backed by centuries of growing up, arguments, tears, laughter and love. And a fair share of exasperation on both sides. Like mother, like daughter. "I understand the nature of that which is being requested," she responds to Stephanie's outburst, "I shall allow no harm to come to this island, but I am also obligated to listen to the laws of Aphrodite."

The queen descends the steps and approaches Kara Zor-El, her expression thoughtful as she listens to everything and weights everything that is said.

"If it is truth, that the beast has been vanquished, then you have provided a service to this world that can never be repaid. The medicine which you claim to bring shall finally efface the madness that follows the beast's wake, and perhaps then the world may heal." She pauses. "We will take this under advisement and confer."

Her penetrating gaze moves to Dark Kara, and Donna by her side. It is clear that she means to address Dark Kara, but there is also something that is troubling the mother of Amazons, and she focuses on Donna with laser focus. "Your knowledge and your manner of speech marks you as one of our sisters, and yet your face is unknown to me and has no parallel among us. You did not speak your name, and if you are indeed one of us you know that lies are also told by omission."

Then she finally glances upon The Enemy, the champion of insanity. The chosen one by a beast, a monster even more revolting than Ares himself.

"They have spoken for you. Have you any words of your own?" she asks, her tone balanced between severity and caution.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna's eyes go to Stephanie, studying her more carefully. She is a woman who normally wears her heart on her sleeve, but right now she reveals very little. Her friends will know that it's probably a struggle for her. "Stephanie?" she asks Diana's daughter. "Is that right? Stephanie, I understand your doubts. I understand that it is a lot to ask of you. But I ask you to ask yourself what the Five would think your correct course is here. To be an Amazon is not just to be a warrior; it is to be a champion of wisdom, and compassion, and love."

    "On my world, the Amazons believe that one should never fight with hatred, but only with compassion. The compassion of Aphrodite demands that even the most fearsome of enemies must be given a chance at redemption. The wisdom of Athena would tell you that one as powerful as Kara Zor-El has the potential to be a force of great good. That potential should not be thrown aside because of fear."

    "It is a hard charge to accept, I know. Yet who else is there who can take this charge? For more than three millennia the Amazons have been guardians of Doom's Doorway. That is a sterner charge than this, but it is necessary, so it is done. This too is necessary. Do not flinch from it but rise to the challenge and become stronger, and wiser, and more compassionate in doing so. This is what your mother, and your grandmother, have done - time and time again."

    She turns to Hippolyta, looking her in the face for a few moments before turning suddenly away. Her eyes turn to Diana, studying that face as if in a vain hope of seeing some hint of recognition that she knows will not come. Her eyes drop to the ground again. "Great Queen, your world and our world are much the same, but clearly there are differences. I was born after the divergence in our histories, and I was not born of Themyscira, though I have sometimes called it home. I suspect I have no parallel here in this world of yours. My name is Troia."

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Kara winces a little at the words spoken about her doppelganger. She is grateful that Karen Starr is not with them this time, to spare her more of this truth about who they could have been. Luckily, neither of them did.

    Dark Kara lifts her red eyes, the marks of her tears upon her cheeks. Her dark hair framing her face and she glares down at the floor. She speaks her truth, "/udoluju nahn w khap. vrreiahv chai w khap. kryptahnuse nahn dhehraogh chaikhap. vrrosh :dokhahsh tulim khap/."

    Kara turns and listens to the words, "She says... I am .. the word is hard to translate. Evil? rotten? bad? ...I broke my oath. I killed the last of Krypton. I deserve oblivion.. null space." She twists her lips as she regards her fallen sister and that sinking heartbreaking feeling returns once more now that she has spoken. Dark Kara for her part lowers her eyes once more. "She means the phantom zone, is what Earth calls it. But I think this would do her and this world no good."

    "I understand if this is too much to ask. I will find another way to handle my ...sister," she says and nibbles on her bottom lip a moment. Kara says, "Troia is a brave and amazing Amazon, who is my team mate in our heroic group. I trust her with my life, as I trust all of them to have the strength of will and spirit of heart to do what is right. They are each incredible in their own way and they make the world a better place every day."

Diana Prince has posed:
Stephanie takes a step back, though her eyes do go from Hippolyta to Donna when she begins her explanation and response. Stephanie now stands to the left of her father and does take a moment to look at him, where he raises his dark eyebrows up at her... They'd had a conversation just last night about how she needed to stand up for herself, and speak up when she had something to say, not to be intimidated even in intimidating moments... of course, he hadn't known THIS was going to happen today.

Diana, stays forward on the edge of the dias and looks toward Hippolyta, she understand the look, but her eyes go back to their guests. To Donna. She is quite interested in this... all of it. There is a longing to know more about Donna, evident upon her face, but ultimately there is a lot to unpack here overall.

But it is the Queen's time to speak, so for now, Diana remains silent, but watchful.

Hippolyta has posed:
The name causes Hippolyta to start for a second. After a moment of silence, the queen appears to choose her words carefully "It appears." Hippolyta says to Donna, "that our Themyscira is diminished in part for not having you among our sisters... Troia. The testimony of your friend bears witness to a worthy daughter of our traditions."

There is an ambiguous quality to her gaze. Is it wistful? Worried? What does the queen know? Troia will never know, as Dark Kara's answer now takes her attention away. Joy and regret have universal qualities that transcend barriers. None may weep that may not find, somewhere, another soul in whom such sorrow does not find an equivalent in its own experience. This woman who defies the millennia looks at Dark Kara thoughtfully, but does not speak. She turns around, her garments rustling gently as she walks up the dais and turns, once again, to look over this impromptu court.

She remains there, in silence and contemplation, for a long stretch of silence. Watching closely, one might be able to see that her lips are moving slowly and silently, and her eyes are cast upwards.

The Queen is praying. And then there is no furhter motion for a stretch of time.

"Justice is the prerogative of the Kindly Ones and the Just goddesses. Revenge is not their prerogative, and it is not written in the laws of Aphrodite, who commands compassion." She finally focuses on Dark Kara, "However, it is true that we may not permit you to remain among us here in the island of Themyscira. You have our compassion, but that is not the same as atonement, and there is much that needs atonement."

She gestures with her hand, "It is for this purpose that, calling upon Divine Aphrodite for inspiration, I have determined the course to take. You who once were Kara Zor-El of this world, shall dwell in this enclosure of the gods, within sight of us but not with us. One of the smaller isles to our Western coast has long remained uninhabited and unnamed. It is thus that we shall heretofore name this island Althaia, the island of healing. It is upon that blessed shore, which shall be sanctified and dedicated to Aphrodite Pandemos, and it is there that we shall establish the means by which you shall attain your redemption."

She steps down one step on the dais, and continues, "You shall be the first to receive the grace of the Five in this, our Reform Island, and you shall have sisters there who will come from our island, to teach you of our ways, that you may regain your standing. As you have disgraced your name, you shall be stripped of it and shall receive, by the grace of Athena, the name of Zosime- the survivor- under which you shall be known to all. If you are earnest in your repentance, you will eventually be allowed to go into the world and aid in its reconstruction. And some day earn the right to claim your old name and be not only a daughter of your old world, but a sister in our own."

She waits for the weight of the words to land, before looking at Dark Kara and saying, "This is the gift of Aphrodite. Do you accept it?"

Kara Danvers has posed:
    Dark Kara looks up slowly and regards Hippolyta, almost as if she is judging her. A Kryptonian stare a mile long if ever there was one. Kara has learnt better having lived amongst the Humans for over two years, but this Dark Kara has not. "/shahraja khap w khap. daogh khap rruhsh :bem khap w .....Zosime/," she says and lowers her gaze once more. It may have looked challenging, but she is certainly not of Earth.

    Kara clears her throat, "She says I do not trust myself, accept me until I am the better 'Zosime'." She twists her lips a touch, "I think that's a yes." She raises an eyebrow to her doppelganger and says, "If I learn you have harmed another living creature on this world I will come back for you /tawe... je/."

Donna Troy has posed:
    "I... thank you, Great Queen." Donna still cannot meet the queen's gaze. For a moment it seemed that she was about to say something more than that, but in the end that's as much as she manages.

    "Sometimes we do not get what we deserve, Kara Zor-El," Donna tells Dark Kara. "And sometimes we do not know what we deserve and must ask those wiser than ourselves for guidance. I know your sister, the you that lives in my universe, that was not corrupted by that creature. The person she is, is within you too. Do not wish oblivion on yourself. Instead, embrace the opportunity to be the person I know you can be."

    "This world has seen much destruction, and so much wasted potential. Do not allow your guilt to drive you to seek more. An opportunity has been held out to you, Zosime. I urge you to reach out and take it. Redeem yourself. Wipe the stain from your house, and the stain from the pure soul I know to be within you."

    Donna nods to the guards, forgetting for a moment that she is also a stranger here, and with a flick of her wrist, she releases Dark Kara from the bonds of her lasso.

Diana Prince has posed:
Stephanie has more to say, and though she's restrained herself from saying it, she is certainly struggling. Her father has taken up a position behind her where he gently rests his hands upon her shoulders, to help keep her relaxed while Diana stands to the front and left of them both. She draws in a light breath.

"I will prepare a group to go to the island and arrange it to be ready for its new resident." Diana states, as she turns to look toward her daughter. "Come along, Stephanie."

The offspring of the Princess, a Princess in her own right because of it, glances back to her father who just lifts his eyebrows up and shrugs his shoulders before releasing his child to go with her mother. He of course, will trail along with them, as he's not one to stay back here and enjoy time with his mother-in-law!

Diana, starting to move, gives another 'eying look' toward Donna before looking away again.