WHO Diana + Cassie Sandsmark WHAT Discovering a portal WHEN Monday morning WHERE In the park -> Themyscira WARNINGS TBD, probably just OVERWHELMING HAPPINESS STATUS Closed | Incomplete
Diana had once again withdrawn from Cassandra after discovering bad news and she knew she needed to make it up to her. To that end, she had woken her charge before the sunrise and cajoled her out of bed.
“It’s a time honored tradition,” she had explained. “Something my mother did with me.” Diana knew Cassie well enough to know what would be most convincing to her and it worked well because it was also the truth. When she had been younger, her mother would wake her just before dawn and take her to different point on the island to experience the sunrise.
“I know I have not been the guardian you deserve, Cassandra. I am sorry for that,” Diana apologized as they made their way to the park. “I will do better by you, if this I swear.”
***
When the news broke, Cassie had been quite a mess. She could not imagine what Diana was going through on any level, and wanted nothing more than to be there for her in every way she could. She had hugged Diana so much and wanted her to know that nothing was going to change her mind that Cassie still adored her. She had been hardpressed to leave Diana’s side, but Cassie knew that she would still need her space.
Upon being pulled from bed at the promise of something new, exciting, and a tradition shared between Diana and her mother, Cassie made haste to get ready.
This was good for both of them. Get some fresh air and do something special between them.
Cassie took hold of Diana’s hand and gave her the biggest smile she could muster. “You always do better by me, Diana. Don’t even think you don’t.” Heading toward the park, though, certainly perked Cassie’s interest.
“What’s in the park?”
***
"The sunrise," Diana replied as they entered the park. "It was something we did every so often," she explained as she led the way along the footpath toward one of the clearings. "My mother said that it was important to see the same thing from different points of view. It has helped in dealing with conflicts because it allows me to see more than just my own side or one side." It was important to have that kind of awareness especially when taking on the mantle of a superhero.
"You have so much potential, Cassie." Diana put her arm around the younger girl and gave her a side hug for a brief moment. "If I can impart some of the wisdom my mother instilled in me, I will be a better guardian for you," she promised. She would do her best, just like she said to Bruce only a few days ago. "Did you have fun going through the obstacle course with Tim on Saturday?"
***
Cassie, as she usually did, hung onto every word that Diana spoke to her. Advice, words of wisdom, and even when she did have to be reprimanded, Cassie listened. Intently. Her relationship with Diana was much different than whatever Cassie had with her own mother, which had never been much of anything.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been up so early to see it. I’m glad we’re going!” Cassie curled into Diana when she hugged her. In turn, she wrapped her arms gingerly around her guardian. “You already are,” she said, her voice muffled a bit against Diana’s shoulder. Cassie would continue to remind Diana of that, continue to press that Diana was good to her no matter what.
Stepping back, Cassie turned a bit red and smiled. “I did. I mean, we had a fun weekend all together. We went to the party on Friday! Costumes and everything. I have pictures if you want to see them later.” Looking down at her hands, fiddling with a string on her hoodie, Cassie’s smile widened. “We hung out together afterward. We spent the whole night just talking about pretty much everything. We...kind of fell asleep, and it was nice. I mean, Tim is always nice! I just didn’t think -- after we had kissed back home and it was just a mess -- I’m glad he’s here.” Just as Cassie was glad Diana had Bruce. “What is it about these Drake and Wayne guys anyway?”
***
Diana wasn't certain she deserved Cassie's kind words and compassion, but she appreciated it all the same. Meeting the younger girl had been a somewhat awkward experience at first simply because Cassie had so clearly adored her from the very beginning. They'd both grown and adjusted in that way as they had gotten to know each other.
"I would like to see your pictures," she replied, smiling fondly as she heard about what her ward had been up to. She had more to thank Bruce for it seemed, because he'd had Tim go above and beyond in distracting Cassandra. Her smile turned to a chuckle when her ward asked about Drake and Wayne men. "I think it takes a certain kind of woman to keep them interested for extended periods of time," Diana acknowledged. "And there is a certain mysteriousness around both of them. I believe Tim has learned a great deal from Bruce in that regard." Just as she believed that Bruce would learn a great deal from his future adopted son.
Something caught the corner of her eye, a shimmering sort of thing, and she guided Cassandra toward it. "What is this?" Diana wondered aloud as she stopped in front of what appeared to be a rift in the fabric of space. A portal of some kind, but to where? She took Cassie's hand tightly and then began to push her hand through it. It felt warm on the other side and Diana turned to her ward curiously. "Perhaps a way out?" Could they be so lucky?
"Should we try?"
***
Cassie would of course share those pictures with Diana, and they could go on for days trying to figure out what made the likes of Bruce Wayne, and Tim Drake-Wayne tick. That was for a later time, though.
When Diana took her hand, Cassie’s eyes went wide and her expression would be answer enough. “Yes! I mean, even if it’s not? We totally got this!” Because if there was danger through whatever the strange tear was, Cassie knew she and Diana could handle it.
She was anxiously reaching for the tear as well. “Come on!”
***
Diana grinned, more herself in that moment than she had been since she'd unexpectedly been a teenager. With Cassie in agreement, she took the first step into the tear, unsure of what to expect on the other side. She knew they could handle it though.
The sunlight was much brighter when they stepped through. Wherever they were, the sun had already risen. Sand was beneath her feet and Diana felt her heart leap into her throat as she turned, her grip on Cassie's hand so strong, and saw the familiar view of her home. "Oh Hera."
Diana dropped to her knees but she never let go of Cassie's hand. She closed her eyes and offered up a prayer to the Gods in thanks. After another moment, she got back to her feet and smiled widely at her ward. "Cassandra, I would like to welcome you to Themyscira."
***
Cassie followed closely behind Diana, and as they entered through the tear, Cassie was taken back by what was before her. Keeping her hand tightly wrapped, she took a hurried step toward Diana when her guardian dropped to her knees. She was worried that something had happened, but there was joy in her voice. The look on Diana’s face, followed by her statement, helped Cassie understand her actions.
“Really??” Her voice raised a few octaves, and Cassie looked from Diana to the island, and back again. “How? How is this possible? I thought we weren’t able to leave Madison!”
***
"I don't know," she replied, but she was grinning. "Come, I cannot wait to introduce you to everyone." Diana rose up into the air and trusted her ward to do the same. The others would know of the intrusion, simply because it didn't happen very often at all. Sure enough, Amazons on horseback could be seen just a few yards away.
"Sisters! I have returned to Themyscira!" Diana called out to them as she and Cassie flew overhead. "I will explain more when I speak to mother. We will meet you there." She didn't spare another thought for them as she led Cassie over the island. "I will show you the island properly after we've spoken with the Queen," she promised. "But see Themyscira in all it's beauty." There was so much pride in her voice as she spoke of her home. She loved this place that gave her life.
"You will love it here, I assure you." For however long they were able to stay. If it was indeed their home, Diana was grateful to have found it. She would check her device after speaking with her mother.
***
Cassie continued her quick pursuit of Diana. Taking to the air, it was almost like they were in a dream. This wasn’t possible, was it? If other things hadn’t happened while she had been in Madison Valley, Cassie would have insisted something else was wrong. However, given that other dimensions and alternate universes existed even in Madison, she knew that everything around them was very real.
It was beautiful. Cassie had seen some pretty places, but this was undeniably the best. The warmth of the sun, the waterfalls that she was eager to fly through, and flowering trees she could fly loops around as much as she wanted.
For the first time in many years, Cassie knew she could be who she really was without having to be so cautious and careful.
“I can’t wait! I’ve always wanted to come here and see it for myself. It...kind of feels like home!”
***
Diana was just as eager as her ward, but she knew they would need to explain their presence sooner rather than later. She led Cassandra over most of the city until they landed on the steps of the temple, where her mother most likely was. She turned to her ward, both excited and also serious.
"This is a temple for the Gods," she explained. "Queen Hippolyta is inside, and we must explain how it is that we have come to be here, but after, I will show you every part of my home that you wish to see." Diana made the promise easily because she wanted to comb through every last inch of the island. If she only had one day with her home, she would make the most of it.
The Amazons guarding the doors to the temple opened them and Diana grinned. "Are you ready to meet my mother?"