23 Always and Forever.

Udina and I managed to break through the wall of water that was blocking the Island. We thought things were bad before, but once we touched down on the beach of Themyscira we saw how truly bad it was. The bodies of fishmen and Amazons alike filled the beach. The sand was dyed scarlet from the amount of blood spilled.

" This is... Unbelievable. I've never seen so much blood in all my life." Udina spoke. I watched as she shivered in fear, her entire body shaking ever so slightly.

" I've seen my fair share of blood."

" Does it ever get easier?" Udina asked.

" No. Come on, I need to find my family." I began walking through the sea of bodies, stepping over them without regard.

The forests of Themyscira were large and yet it seemed that the bodies of Amazons and fishmen alike filled these lands more than the trees.

As we walked through the forest, we saw amazons and fishmen alike, decapitated, missing chunks of their bodies, missing limbs, filled with arrows and swords and spears.

" This battle was fierce. More so than anything I've ever seen. We need to hurry." I picked up my pace and started running through the forest.

" Wait!" I heard Udina shout from behind.

I would listen but I don't have time. I need to find them.

I ran through the forest and eventually I came to a clearing, in the open field were multiple tents set up around the perimeter of the trees. The one in the middle, however, was much larger.

I took a step to move through the tents and I was suddenly surrounded by amazons and spears on all sides.

" Halt! Intruder!"

" Sound the alarm!"

The sound of a horn being blown filled the area around me. I could see that the Amazons, despite being heavily injured, were still ready to fight. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have run carelessly ahead. Nevertheless.

" Why are you here?" One of the amazons asked. Her hand barely able to hold her sword up. She looked as if she would kill over any moment.

" I am not your enemy. I am a friend of Hercules. I am here looking for my wife and my daughter." I explained to the woman.

" Liar! You are an enemy and are here too..."

" Astarte! Stay your blade." A woman, tall and strong and covered from head to toe in bandages emerged from the massive tent in the center of the clearing. She had long blonde hair, her hands were the size of a bears and yet her body was as curvaceous... No more so than many maidens of Greece.

" Queen Hippolyta, he is an enemy. Come to finish us off." Astarte replied.

" No... He is not. He is a friend." Hippolyta told the girl.

Astarte looked back and forth between me and her queen. She grit her teeth and huffed her breath. But she still lowered her blade and moved out of the way.

" You must be Timaeus. We have been expecting you oh great warrior of the sea. Come, please join me in my tent. We have much to discuss." Her voice was soft and somber. Not something I would expect from the queen of the amazons.

Hippolyta, feels weird to call someone other than my wife that name, gestured for me to follow her and so I did.

We walked into the tent and immediately I saw Hercules, beaten black and blue, laying out on the ground with bloody bandages all over his body. I was in shock. I had never seen or even heard of Hercules losing so badly.

" I am sure this shocks you. We were just as amazed." Hippolyta spoke.

" What happened?"

" It was Poseidon. Hercules and Triton were locked in fierce combat. Hercules was defending the little girl. That's when Poseidon struck. He ran Hercules through the back with his trident and proceeded to pummel him." Hippolyta explained.

" What happened to them? What happened to my family?!" I shouted.

Hippolyta got to her feet and gestured for me to follow her. And I did. She led me down through a secret passage in her tent to a cave.

The room was darkly lit and there were strange markings all around. And at the center of the room, laying atop a stone pillar was my wife, Hippolyta.

" I am sorry. We tried our best to save her, but she is not long for this life. I will leave you to say your goodbyes." Hippolyta spoke. She then bowed and curtly left the room we were in.

I dropped my weapons, and slowly walked towards the stone pillar. I saw my vision blur and my heart ache. I saw the wounds on her body, the many cuts and scrapes and holes.

" You would never have gone down without a fight my love." I didn't say. I couldn't find the strength to speak. But I knew. I knew she would have done anything to save our little girl. Our little girl, I had no idea where she was. Was she dead too, or worse.

I reached down and gently picked Hippolyta up. Raising her head ever so slightly above the rest of her body. And then it happened. Her eyes fluttered and miraculously she awoke, and a smile graced her lips. Tears started forming in her eyes and her hand reached up to touch my face.

" My love?" Her voice was weak and raspy. It was hard to see the strong woman I had known and loved so weak and know it was my fault. " I thought I'd lost you. Why are crying?" She asked.

I hadn't realized it until she spoke, but as I held her in my arms I watched as a tear fell onto her face.

" Hippolyta, I am so sorry. For this. For not being able to protect you or the kids."

" It's not... Your fault... It never.... Will be. It's... My own. I... Tried to save her... But I couldn't." Hippolyta spoke. She struggled to even breathe let alone speak. And it made it even worse when she began to cry as well. " I'm so sorry... My love. Our children suffered because I was too weak to protect them."

" None of what has happened is your fault, my love. It is mine. I should have been here to protect you."

" You were doing your duty. You were protecting everyone. I cannot blame you... For sacrificing yourself for our freedoms."

" Do not speak. Save your strength my love. I can save you. I know I can."

" You cannot.... Save me. I am dying. I can feel it. But... Diana... You can save her. You can."

" What do you mean?" I asked.

" They took her... They took her... Alive. You can still save her. Promise me... You'll save her. Please."

Hippolyta's hand fell from my face. I quickly grabbed it and squeezed it as gently as I could.

" I promise my love. I swear to the gods I will do whatever it takes to save her."

" Thank... Thank goodness." Hippolyta took a deep breath and I felt her body relax. " Timaeus?"

" Yeah, my love?"

" It hurts so bad. And I'm... I'm so very tired."

" It's okay, my dear. Rest. Rest yourself. I promise I'll be right here with you when you wake up."

" You promise? You won't leave me again?"

" I promise, I'm not going anywhere ever again. I'll be right with you for all of eternity my love."

" Thank you. Timaeus?"

I could feel it. Her heartbeat was growing weaker and weaker with every passing moment. And her breaths drew quieter.

" Yes, Hippolyta, my love?"

" I love you."

" I love you too. Always and forever."

With those last words, Hippolyta smiled up at me and closed her eyes. She took one last deep breath and then released. Released all of it. I could hear it. I could the last breaths she took leaving her body. She was gone.

" Haaaa. Haaaaa! HAAHAAAAHA! AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! HIPPOLYTAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!" I slowly built up to a full scream. And then with all of my might I screamed to the top of my lungs as I held on to the lifeless body of my wife of more than twenty years.