#and act as each other's beards at formal events | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

james-rowan · 3 years ago

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Here’s my (very late, sorry 😓) contribution to the @dualrainbow Pride event. Thank you To_Dragons for helping me edit.

Ships: Montagne/Blitz, Lion/Doc, Valkyrie/Finka and Castle/Maverick

The Pride Festival

The Austin Texas Pride Festival was held on a hot, sunny afternoon, and it smelled of fair food, sunscreen and energy. It was colorful, and bright, mrainbows everywhere, adorning stalls, signs and, of course, people.

To the European operators who had been to Pride events before, it was not only loud, but bold. From the outfits, that ranged from simple rainbow wristbands to full on outrageous outfits (or just a jockstrap), to the signs and stalls and performance stages. Couples were embracing, kissing and making out openly and passionately, without shame or guilt, not only couples but the rare poly groups, finally able to carry on with open affections and taking full advantage. The atmosphere was infectious. It had already claimed Maverick and Castle, who walked very close to each other -despite the heat- hands in each other’s back pockets. They also were very unrestrained with the kissing.

And Montagne thought that he and Blitz could be overly affectionate. But then he was still waiting for his lover to meet them there. He had flown out on his own specifically for this.

Their group included the aforementioned Castle and Maverick, Valkyrie, Finka, himself, Lion and Doc.

They had traveled from Fort Polk, Louisiana, where they, that being the FBI SWAT, SEALs and GIGN, and one tagalong (at her vehement request) Finka, were doing training with the U.S. Army rangers stationed there. After two weeks of a field exercise in muggy swamplands, their Pride group had been excited to go somewhere dry, but unfortunately Houston did not live up to the Texas desert stereotypes; it was almost as humid as Fort Polk. But at least here there was civilization. And Montagne himself was excited to finally see Blitz.

“Schatz!”

Speaking of whom, he was charging at them, looking very much the part of a Pride attendee. He caught his lover in his arms, swinging him around once, despite the soreness from training, then dipped him into a deep kiss. that gained the awe and cheers of not only from some in their own group, but several onlooking strangers as well.

When they finally parted , Lion muttered, “They’re acting like they haven’t seen each other in a year.”

The couple ignored him as Blitz held Monty out in arms length to appraise his outfit. He tutted, “Not to live up to the stereotype, Schatz, but what are you wearing?”

Montagne looked down at himself. He was wearing a lightweight button down with rolled up sleeves, dark trousers and shined shoes, nothing offensive, if a bit formal compared to everyone else, but the reason was important.

Blitz himself was dressed the complete opposite, wearing a loose stringer tanktop that exposed his toned shoulders and even his pecs when he moved just right. Jean cutoff shorts, sneakers with colorful laces, large sunglasses, a backwards ball cap, wristbands: every article of clothing was either rainbow colored, or had an inclusive pride flag adorning it.

“Euh… what’s wrong with it?

“If it were any other day, nothing,” Blitz said. “You look sharp and sexy as ever. But this is Pride, American Pride, ja? Look around.”

Almost everyone was wearing Pride merchandise, had flags draped on their shoulders, or had face paint of various LGBTQ+ symbols, from obvious t more subtle. The bolder were the ones wearing much more and the even bolder much less.

Blitz grabbed his hand, “Come, we’re fixing this.”

“Aren’t we a little old for…”

“Psst, nein. This will be fun, ja? To dress up as we please, get swept up in the atmosphere.”

“We can already dress as we please.”

“I mean colorful, and silly, no fashion rules to hold us back. Come on!”

With that Blitz dragged him off, leaving the rest in their wake.

“Well,” Finka chuckled. “Hi to you too, Elias.”

“Those two are disgusting,” Lion snickered. “How long have they been together? A year?”

“Two,” Finka said. “With no signs of slowing down.”

“Their honeymoon phase is going to last forever at this rate,” Valkyrie said.

“That explains why Gilles is going to…” Lion stopped himself, eyes wide.

“What is Gilles going to do?” Valkyrie was now very interested.

“Olivier, you wanted to show me something?” Doc, the amazing man he was, quickly interjected.

Had it been a few months ago, Lion would have been confused, but now Doc had bailed him out enough times during conversations that he immediately went, “Ah right, this way.”

“We’ll go with you,” Valkyrie smirked.

“Non, non, it's private,” Lion said.

“The good Catholic boy he is, he cannot share,” he said, steering Lion away before he could reveal too much.

Out of earshot, Lion mumbled, “How can you be nice while mocking me at the same time?” Lion was a bit prickly at the Catholic comment. It has always been a point of mockery for people outside the church.

“I could ask you the same. You have quite the talent for it. Far more than I can hope to achieve.”

“Most of the time I don’t mean to.”

“I know.” Doc’s tone softened into a reassuring one, giving his side a squeeze. “Otherwise we wouldn’t have found common ground, mon coeur,” he said. “People also tend not to question when a Catholic needs to do private things, no? With Islam it works quite well.”

Lion took a deep breath, but understood. It was nothing malicious. “Thank you. I didn’t want to be the one to fuck that all up.”

It had taken years to come to a mutual understanding, let alone to find a way to deal with their mutual attraction to one another. It was a rocky, long road, but here they were. Lion hoped one day they would be exactly like Blitz and Montagne, or even just Castle and Maverick.

Lion brushed his forefinger against Doc’s hand, tentatively seeking to hold it. Their relationship was so new, so fragile, like a baby bird or sugar glass, too easy to hurt or shatter. A hundred things, even things gentle or nice, could ruin a relationship, if you looked into it. And considering their history, before they got together… where just one off hand remark would destroy a truce they had established between each other, setting them at each other's throats once again. Lion never wanted to go back to those times. He’d do anything to keep it from degrading back.

Doc immediately took hold of his hand, as if he had been waiting to do so all day, giving a loving squeeze.

Warmth flooded Lion, he felt a giant stupid grin spreading across his face. It was almost too much, as he felt pricks in his eyes, as he squeezed back. He glanced sideways at Doc, finding him gently smiling, mellow as always when he was content. He wanted nothing more than to sweep him up and kiss him fiercely, but maybe then it’d be too much. He’d settle for this for now.

After browsing a couple stalls, he remembered something. What did the relationship advice he found on that one website say? That he should always seek to compliment and let someone know how much their actions mean to him, so he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the right words.

“You know,” Lion said, barely able to be heard over the crowd. “I’m so glad you’re willing to hold my hand.”

“Willing? I want to,” Doc corrected, bringing it to his lips and kissing his knuckles.

Lion smile only grew wider, and he had to look away as red creeped from his ears to his cheeks now. “J’taime.”

“J’taime.”

The warm fuzzy feeling in his chest threatened to burst, helped along by with the anxiety, the pervasive fear that this was about to be ripped from him at any moment.

They grabbed something to eat and sat down on a bench. If American food was considered greasy, their fair food was simply lard on a plate, with maybe some sugar or ketchup for seasoning. They commented on this to each other, when something caught Lion’s eye. There were older women and a couple of men wearing t-shirts, that said “free mom hugs.” (the men’s shirts said ‘dad’) As implied, they hugged everyone who came up to them. Some hugs were light and quick, and some deep and heartfelt, lasting many minutes. Lion’s eyes followed one of them until he came upon a group of them, holding signs, the same message written on them.

“Is that what I think?”

“Hmm?” Doc looked up. “Ah, probably. Hold on.”

To Lion's horror, his fellow frenchman asked a nearby American who they were; the man explaining with a bright smile that they were a charity organization that helped LGBTQ+ youth, and they gave out hugs - of course -, for any who had been rejected by their families for their sexuality.

Small talk ensued, in which Lion was only half-participating in as he ate, and when the man finally left, Doc nudged his side.

“You’ve been glancing at them this whole time. Go on, go talk to them.”

“I don’t need a hug.”

Doc tsked, “That’s a lie.”

“Huh?”

“If anyone needs a hug from a father figure, it is you, no?”

“I…” Lion paused then shook his head. “No, I’m over it, I put it behind me. It happened over a decade ago, after all.”

Doc raised an eyebrow, one of his infuriatingly knowing smiles tugging at his lips.

“They are for this who were disowned for being homosexual, Gustave. I was not...”

“And your father would have accepted you being with another man? Or is it only teens getting their girlfriends pregnant that he takes moral issue with?”

Lion didn’t have an answer for him. Well he did, just not a verbal one. There were so many reasons his father wanted nothing to do with him.

“I’m over it,” he repeated, but this time with less conviction.

“Then it would be of no consequence,” Doc said, squeezing his hand. “Go on.”

It was an awkward walk to approach them. He had to remind himself he was a soldier, he had faced death multiple times, fought against some of the most dangerous people in the world and this- This was just a civilian man at a pride event. Much older than him, sure, with a kind face and beard. But he realized as his step grew increasing hesitant that it wasn’t the human he was afraid of, but his soul, and what it could do to his own with just a few brash words.

What was he even going to say? “Hey I saw your sign, my dad hates me, can I get a hug?” That was ridiculous. Maybe lean into the role this man was offering to play, “Sorry dad, I was a fuck up, I can't change?" Or… "sorry you were not capable of loving me the way I am?" Both sounded completely rude to say to a stranger.

But as he approached, the older man met his eye, and there was no need for questions, nor words. The dad only smiled at him and opened his arms.

Lion found himself in the other man’s embrace before he even realized, hugging him as if his life depended on it. The older man matched his energy, a hand on the back of his head as if Lion really was his own child. Time seemed to stretch on and on; Lion had been anticipating a quick hug, just a little taste of what he got so envious of every time he saw someone have a loving moment with their parent, but no, his body refused to let go and so did this stranger. This stranger who held onto him with a fatherly patience Lion once thought only existed in fantasy.

The lump growing in his throat ached. He tried swallowing it down, but it only made it worse.

He shouldn’t have done this. He thought he was over it, yet it hurt, it hurt so fucking much…!

He wanted to run, he wanted to stay, he wanted…

“It’s alright to cry,” the man whispered. “I got you.”

“My real father disowned me.” Lion wasn’t proud of how strangled his voice sounded, or how he let some tears escape.

“I’m so sorry, son,” the man replied, rubbing his back gently. “You didn’t deserve that.”

“I did.”

“No, you didn’t. Nobody does.”

“I never could give him a reason to love me.”

“Children don’t need to give a reason. They’re supposed to be loved by their parents, no matter what mistakes they made, real or imagined. You deserve to be loved.”

Lion was biting the inside of his cheek, trying to will away the need to sob. This was a happy moment, a validating moment, with kind words, and warmth, why did it hurt so much then? His fingers clutched at the man’s shirt, as he gently rocked them. It didn’t feel infantilizing, it felt relieving, needed, like a hole finally being filled.

“You can cry, you know,” the man whispered again. “Emotions are made to be expressed. You don’t have to be strong, not here, not with me. I know you’re hurting, Don’t worry, I’m here.”

A choked sob escaped, and Lion pressed his face into the man's shoulder. “There you go, let it out, I’m proud of you.”

There was no coming back from that. He broke down, and it was ugly.

Lion sobbed into his arms, all rsesemblance of control disappearing, but the father held him through it all. It lasted way longer than Lion thought possible, but they eventually subsided, and he was still being held as he calmed down. When he felt strong enough to break the embrace, he was met with a gentle, fatherly smile.

“Do you feel better?”

“Oui.. yes, thank you,” he wiped his face with his own shirt. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” the manhe said. “I’m just doing what fathers were meant to do.”

“Merci.”

They talked for a little while after. About what happened with his father, his family, himself. The cynical side of him expected them to reveal their ulterior motive, asking him for charity donations, to attend a church service, or even a cult, but they didn’t offer him any flyers or business cards, just warm words... water and tissues. At least he wasn’t the first grown man to cry like this in their arms. They were genuinely good people.

Doc had been waiting patiently for him on the bench, and stood up to embrace him and kiss his cheek upon his return. “How do you feel?”

“Drained,” he said. Then he added, “Relieved. I guess you were…” he caught himself. “No, you were completely right.”

“I’m glad you went then, mon coeur.”

Lion needed a smoke. Before got to know him, Lion would have assumed the doctor was too high and mighty for a nicotine fix, but then found out he was a man in a high stress job like the rest of them, and didn’t judge. Except on the mandatory substance abuse powerpoints they all had to sit through every few months.

He lit up, drawing the smoke in and letting it mellow him out. Every so often he would think back and a few more tears would leak out.

He wiped his eyes with his thumb. “You know why I was so happy that you took my hand?”

“Non,” Doc said, rubbing his back. “But please tell me.”

“I was at the store with my mother and father,” he said. “I was just following along, and I see my mother offer her hand to hold, you know, this gesture…”

He made it. Doc patiently nodded.

“Well I was nearest to her, I think. I was so happy, I remember feeling loved, all warm, because my mama wanted to hold my hand.”

He paused, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Go on, I’m listening.”

Lion took a deep breath. His voice shuddered, “She let go, non.. she threw my hand away from her, in utter disgust. As if I were disgusting. She snapped, ‘I don’t want your hand.’”

Lion ducked his head. “It was a small thing, yes, but it hurt, it hurt so much. Turned out she wanted my father’s hand, not her son’s, not mine.”

It was a few beats later before Doc said, “How old were you?”

“Four, maybe five,” Lion said. “I hate that feeling, those moments where you finally feel happy and loved, and the next second someone shatters it completely. Despair is a good word for it, I think.”

“How often did these types of things happen?”

“Plenty, I was a disgusting child, after all.”

“No,” Doc said. “She was just… cruel.”

Lion huffed, not a wry laugh, just disbelieving. “You’re not going to tell me that she tried her best?”

“Did she?”

“I… I don’t know…”

“Then I think not,” Doc said softly, cupping Lion’s cheek. He leaned into the warmth.

"I still get this horrible… fear when I want to take someone’s hand, or show any affection. So I usually don’t.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you, mon cher. And if I ever make you feel the way your mother did, I want you to tell me.”

Lion nodded, looking down, not entirely sure if he would. Doc tilted his head back up. “Hey, I mean it.”

Lion took his hand and almost went for a kiss, but the deep moment was interrupted by Blitz and Monty approaching. Lion quickly turned away so neither of the two could see his red puffy eyes, but he did see Monty was wearing a stringer tanktop, tie dyed rainbow, and adorned with rainbows in body paint and a look of subdued embarrassment any time Elias had his back turned. Blitz was going a bit overboard on this look.

“Have you seen Meghan?” Blitz said, “unless you have a bag?”

Doc pointed them into the right direction, as Lion quickly drank his water.

“Olivier, are you okay?”

“He just needs some alone time with me,” Doc saved him. Again.

The pair offered their sympathies to Lion (much to his annoyance) and wandered off to find the two women.

“Don’t you ever dress me up that garishly,” Lion snickered.

“Please, mon coeur, I have taste,” Doc said, before grabbing his knee and squeezing, voice now whispering in his ear. “Besides, I prefer you out of your clothes.”

He nipped his earlobe before Lion could exasperate out his name, earning a yelp instead.

Any semblance of protocol melted into genuine, unmasked joy just to be in each other’s company, in a welcoming space where they could be open about themselves Gustave himself was intent on kissing his lover better.

Finka and Valkyrie had been watching a stage performance when Blitz appeared at Valkyrie’s side, grinning, as usual, and... now covered in glitter?

“Meghan, can we borrow your purse?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to have to carry around Gilles’s shirt all day.”

Valkyrie turned fully to see Montagne, who had trailed in after him, no longer wearing his tasteful, understated ensemble, but had been attacked by rainbows and what looked to be the same shimmer bomb that Blitz must have been caught in.

“No, you’re going to get glitter in it,” Valkyrie frowned.

“Please? I’ll clean it out for you myself.”

“Glitter?” Finka said, turning around. “We have to ride back with your boyfriend, and you wore glitt-”

Finka must have caught sight of Montagne’s giant pecs escaping the too small, flimsy shirt, because she turned bright red and turned back to stare very intently at the performer.

All Valkyrie herself could think was ’damn Montagne is strong and it shows’, but that was it, of course. Her girlfriend however was bi, with a particular weakness for large people with muscles.

“Och, I almost forgot,” Blitz said cheekily. “You have any sunscreen? Gilles wasn’t prepared for this outfit.”

“I don’t think any of us were prepared,” Finka snipped, still keeping Montagne out of her line of sight. She pulled out a sunblock bottle from her cargo pocket and tossed it over.

“You alright there, Lera?” Blitz asked as he caught it.

“I’m fine, it's just hot,” she replied, still avoiding eye contact, “The weather, I mean.”

Blitz grinned, “He is hot, isn’t he?”

“Mon cher…” Montagne groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just…”

Meghan clapped her hands, “Okay, go away, go be gay somewhere else. We have enough that of our own over here.”

Blitz ignored her, looking at Finka with a grin, “What do you think of us getting temporary hair color? I was thinking of dyeing our hair rainbow.”

“Well, you’ve gone this far,” Finka said, pointedly staring at Blitz’s eyes. “Might as well go full golubok.”

“Hah, ja, I like the way you think, I…”

“Here,” Meghan said, grabbing Gilles’s shirt from Blitz’s hands and stuffing it into her purse. “Go dye your hair now. Go on.”

“Alright, all right.” Blitz grinned, holding up his hands and going. Montagne sighed deeply, a twitch working its way through his cheek before following. Odd, but not her problem. She had someone much more important to worry about.

“You’re into muscles, huh?”

“You know I am,” Finka said sheepishly. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting that.”

Valkyrie laughed, “It’s fine, he got great boobs.” That caused Finka to snort. “You know, for a man.”

Finka laughed longer than she expected, but it was always nice when her girlfriend had one of her genuine laughs.

“It's always nice to see real muscles,” Finka said. “Real ones, from being big and strong, and healthy.”

“Oh, you mean some like mine?” She flexed, tattooed arms positively sexy as the bulged.

Finka’s eyes got a hungry glunt to them, she put her hands on Valkyrie’s arms, feeling the solidness beneath her fingers, “Yes, just like that.”

Finka kissed her girlfriend long and deep, and Valkyrie relished being able to do so in the open, without the anxiety of having some bigot laying eyes on them and causing a scene. It was annoying enough to deal with the old people (and the occasional man similarly aged man) she had never met before tsk at her for daring to have tattoos and being too buff, saying she was too pretty to mark herself up like that and ask how she was ever going to find a man looking like that. She had already broke the glass ceiling for women in something as prestigious and hardcore as the Navy fucking SEALs, but there were still so many in American society that were convinced that women existed to look pleasant to men, regardless of if said women even wanted a pet man or not.

The kiss was broken when Finka’s wristwatch timer went off, and her girlfriend quickly drank from her water bottle. It was such a practiced motion, Valkyrie wasn’t entirely convinced Lera was aware she was doing it, and it made her heart ache. When she was finished, she wrapped her arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Later they were browsing stalls, and Finka gravitated towards one that was selling pride flags and shirts, not only the standard colors for each identity group, but also the ones that represented multiple identities within the same flag. Finka fingered a nonbinary one with a heart in the bisexual colors on its center. Interesting choice.

“I’d love to see you wear one of these, babe.”

Finka smiled, but shook her head, “I don’t know…”

“Come on, I’m not trying to pull a Blitz on you, I’ll wear one with you.”

“And what am I going to do with it afterwards?”

“Keep it? We’re not in Russia, our base is in Greece, basically its own sovereign territory.”

“When you went through SEALs, there were dissenters that tried to prove your were lesbian so they could get you removed from the program, didn’t they?”

Valkyrie shrugged, “Yeah, but they failed.”

“The last thing that the Russian government wants is one of it most elite spetsnaz operatives in an international effort to be homosexual,” Finka explained. “Its not illegal, yet, but my existence could be considered ‘propaganda.’ I might not just be removed from Rainbow, or Spetsnaz, or the Russian military, I could be jailed.

“Ah.”

“You know what Russian prison is like? I might be able to survive the system if I wasn’t sick, but I am diseased. They’d deny me my medication, not let me stay hydrated or fed or exercised and I’ll...”

“Hey, hey,” Meghan said, quickly drawing Lera into a hug. “I’m sorry, it was just a silly idea.”

“I’m…” she took a deep breath then nodded. “Thank you.”

Meghan kissed her forehead, holding her hands. Lera usually had to be stressed, well, more stressed than usual, to go on such a downward spiral so quickly. Being at such a Pride event, probably, if anyone found out. Finka didn’t believe her own Rainbow Spetsnaz brothers to out her, they were too close, but it was still risky.

“The Soviet Union used to accept openly gay people, did you know that?”

Valkyrie shook her head.

“Not a lot of people do, even in Russia. It was the early years, of course, but they gave gays rights they never had before. But then, of course, the Soviets needed more bodies. Bodies for war, and bodies for work, and of course, they believed gays were the reason that their population wasn’t pumping out babies at a fast enough rate.”

“Oh.”

“It all comes down to child production, doesn’t it? You know this.”

“Unfortunately I do,” Valkyrie said. “Not even just governments but families too. When my grandma found out I was lesbian, she sobbed, crying about how she won’t have any grandbabies from my father’s line. Then she blamed my father for raising me too military, while blaming my mother for letting me compete in high level sports.” She adopted a shrill, tottering grandma voice, ‘Sports always turns girls into dykes. I wanted greatgrandbabies from every child! But you made her want to turn into a boy!”

“Blin.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

“My own parents alway knew I would like girls,” she said. “Enough to be surprised and confused when I brought home boyfriends that I was genuinely happy with. They cited my, uh, how you call it, boyishness? Well, I never felt comfortable in the woman’s role and they, knowing what my siblings and I had…, they didn’t really feel a need to pressure us to do anything but stay as healthy and active as possible.”

Meghan slowly began to realize this was turning into much more than a simple sharing of stories, and squeezed her hands in support.

“I never liked being…. I don’t know how to put this. I didn’t like the gendered language used for me. And I never felt when people were talking about women, they were talking about to me as well. Just as I thought the rules and expectations boys are taught growing up applied to me as well. You know, don’t cry, be tough, treat women with respect, fight those who try to push you around. Then I learned of this new concept a couple years ago, someone could be neither. I laughed at it at first but...”

“Lera…” Valkyrie said softly, with a loving smile. “Do you want me to use they/them for you?”

Her… their eyes lit up. “Would you? I mean, I’m not sure just yet, but I would like to try them out. “Non pun intended?”

“Hmm? Oh yes,” they were positively beaming. They were so beautiful.

“Just to see. I mean, I still have to use she and her at work but, just in private.”

“Of course, babe.”

Valkyrie cupped their face and kissed them deeply.

She ended up buying Finka something, a silver bracelet in the colored stones in the nonbinary colors as the setting. Something simple and discreet yet powerful where it mattered.

Montagne had texted the couples to be on their way back to the group when Blitz finally realized he wasn’t just looking like a rainbow, but rather a discontented victim of a rainbow being sick.

“What’s wrong, Schatz?”

The giant man sighed, folding his arms over his chest.

“So… there is something wrong…?”

“If it were any other day, I wouldn’t have minded, but today…”

“Where else could you do this…?”

“It is not the location, it is the look!” he gestured down at himself. “The timing of it!”

“I don’t understand… ok, ja, I can see why I might have gotten a little carried away.”

Montagne raised a glitter encrusted eyebrow.

“Ok, completely carried away.”

“Mmm.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It is not the fun you were having that I have a problem with, I am used to your antics.”

Blitz went pink, and bashful. Like a puppy being scolded.

“And you know I love your antics, ge added quickly. But why of all days,” Gilles trailed off, pinching the bridge of his nose, and very nearly getting glitter in his eyes.

“Because… its Pride…”

“Yes, you’ve been saying this the whole time.”

“We can go wash it all off, I’m sorry,” Elias said, crestfallen as he moved past him towards the bathrooms.

Montagne caught him around the chest with his arm just as the rest of the group returned, “Non, it's fine… its fine. Perfection is not needed.”

He saw Doc and Loon quickly fumble for their phones, thankfully behind Blitz’s back. Once they nodded, he guided Blitz back to in front of him. “These past few years I’ve known you, you’ve done nothing but make me happy. Your antics, your jokes, your dedication, your downright sweetness, even the way you tap your helmet during exercises. Even before we started seeing each other, your smile would light up my heart and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Gilles…”

Gilles sank to one knee, pulling out a shining wedding ring from his pocket.

“Will you marry me?”

Elias had clapped his hands over his mouth, unable to process this. Their group, except for the GIGN of course, were surprised and estatic. Valkyrie even exclaimed “So that’s what you French bastards were hiding.”

Blitz still hadn’t answered, his eyes shining.

“Elias?”

“Ja! Natürlich sage ich ja, du großer Dummkopf!”

“I assume that's a…”

Blitz very nearly bowled him over to give him his acceptance kiss. He lifted him up as he stood, Elias straddling his hips and swung them around, a dazzling display as the glitter caught the sunshine.

“I’m sorry I got irritated, I just wanted this to go a certain way,” he breathed when their lips parted.

“Schatz, you could have proposed to me covered in mud and sweat.”

“I know,” he said. “But I still wanted to make an effort. I wanted to do it right.”

“You did,” he said. “Look at you, covered in rainbows, just to make me happy, ja?

“Mmm,” he said as Elias lowered himself back to the ground.

Blitz understood now. Gilles was a traditional romantic after all, wanting the candlelit dinners and picnics at the parks on Sundays. He wanted that to extend to his proposal but Blitz was too excited to have silly fun to notice.

“Hey,” he said. Despite the heat they couldn’t stop embracing. “I love you, you know that?”

“I love you too.”

“If you want,” he whispered. “We can still have your perfect proposal night.”

“Two proposals?”

“Ja, why not? I’ll still be excited.”

Gilles gave it a thought. “I’ll have to make things more romantic between us,” he murmured. “Just to throw you off so you don’t know when its coming.”

“Oooh,” Blitz said, draping his arms over Gilles’s shoulders. “I like the sound of that.”

They dazzled them with another sweeping, showstopping dipped kiss, because of course they did.

“I agree with Lion,” Finka laughed with a grin. “You two are disgusting.”

Blitz laughed into Gilles’s mouth, and flipped her off without looking away.

“Great, now those two set the standard for romantic proposals,�� Maverick said.

“Does that mean we’re going to be competing now?” Castle said, perking up.

“I’ll win,” Valkyrie declared. “The rest of you might as well quit now..”

“Pfft, nah, man, if anyone’s winning that it's me.”

“You know, we French have romance in our blood,” Lion said. “I wouldn’t even have to try and I’d win.”

While they dissolved into bickering, the silent ones of their pairs all shared a look, realizing at once what their partners had implied.

Blitz and Monty still had yet to look up from their glitter makeout, oblivious to what they had just started.

#rainbow #rainbow 6 seige #rainbow 6 #dualrainbow #montagne #blitz #Valkyrie #finka #lion #doc #lion/doc #finka/Valkyrie #monty/blitz #gay #nonbinary #coming out #pride #lgbtq #lesbian #bi

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barney-james · 5 years ago

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Reunion Drama || Chris Evans Imagine

{anon} Can I request Chris finding out you and you’re male best friend used to be friends with benefits

A/n i’m not sure how it got where it did my mind just kind of ran, but i love this, also it’s long and probably should’ve been broken into parts, but i’m one of those people who most of the time won’t read something on here in multiple parts (i don’t know why lmao). It also saves the waiting for the next part and easier to put in the masterlist i’m going to make.

Warnings angsty and sad, fluff and nudity at the end but no smut

*gif not mine*

The shower turns off in the bathroom, and through the open door, you can hear your boyfriend get out and sigh. You lean in the door way and look at him, his back facing you as he wraps a clean white towel around his hips. He looks up in the mirror, seeing you staring at him from behind.

“Like what you see?” he smirks, folding the towel in so it won’t fall.

You snort, rolling your eyes at his usual cockiness. “You know,” you begin, walking across the tile towards him, your hand brushing water out of the hair at the base of his neck. “I’d tease you about taking longer than me to get ready, but you waited until the absolute last second to get in the shower.” You run your fingers through his hair, your nails lightly scratching his scalp.

“I didn’t take that long,” he chuckles. “It’s fine.”

“I have been sitting out there, getting wrinkles in my dress and scrolling through channels on the TV for 45 minutes,” you explain. “You decided it best to start getting ready when I’m completely done. Why’d you take 45 minutes anyway?”

“Had to carefully trim the beard, babe,” he retorts, turning his head and kissing you cheek. He steps away from you and grabs his deodorant off of the counter. “Besides, we’ll still get there in time.”

“It started 20 minutes ago, Chris,” you laugh, poking his sides and making him jolt.

“Fashionably late is on time these days. Why are you in such a rush? You hate everyone that’s going to be there.”

“Ethan’s been there waiting.” Your best friend since childhood, Ethan, was also attending the event this evening, seeing as how it’s a 20 year high school reunion. He’d gotten to know Chris pretty well, and they got along well when he’d come visit you in Boston.

“Will you use my phone to get an Uber?” your fiance asks, looking at you over his shoulder. “It’s on the dresser. I just need to get dresses. Give me like 5 minutes.” He turns and kisses your head, following you out of the bathroom.

You grab his phone off the dresser and stand by the window, looking at the final moments of the sunset as you wait for the Uber app to load.

“10 minutes,” you tell him, turning around to see him already buttoning up his shirt. “How do you get dressed so fast?”

“I wear formal clothes a lot more than the average person, honey,” he says as you walk over to him. He grabs a tie from the dresser and wraps it around his neck, waiting for you to tie it for him like you usually do.

“It’s not that special,” you laugh. “You don’t need a tie.” You slide the silk material through your fingers.

“But look at you,” he gestures to you. “You look all dressed up and pretty.” His hands fall to your waist and you smile, pulling him closer to you by the tie still draped over his shoulders. You connect your lips to his in a hot passionate kiss. He pulls your hips closer to him, trying to wrap his arms around you, but you pull away.

You slide the tie out of his collar and put it back on the dresser. When you look back at him, your lipstick had smeared over his lips messily. You wipe your thumb across his lips, biting your lip.

“You can’t do that if you’re really going to make me go out in 5 minutes,” he says sternly, looking into your eyes.

You step back from him and back into the bathroom to fix your lipstick.

“Uber’s here, babe,” Chris calls into the bathroom.

You meet him by the door and unlock it, open it and wait for him. He grabs the door and meets you in the hall, walking with you arm in arm to the elevator. You sit in comfortable silence while waiting to reach the lobby. You look over at him lovingly, smiling, and see that his shirt is still buttoned up all the way as he thought he’d wear a tie. You turn to him, pulling his arm so he faces you, too, and you undo the top few buttons on the shirt, revealing the perfect about of skin.

The elevator door opens and you’re still toying with his shirt. He clears his throat and you look up at him, scrunch your nose cutely and walk out of the elevator with his hand in yours. As you walk out of the hotel lobby and to the Uber, Chris steps ahead of you and opens the door for you. You thank him as you duck your head and get into the car. A short moment after closing your door, he opens the door on the other side of the car and gets in himself.

“Smells like rain,” he comments, grabbing your hand.

“That’s typical.”

You engage in casual conversation with your driver, mostly Chris as you sit nervously smoothing your hands over your satin dress. Chris notices and simply squeezes your thigh, knowing you’re nervous to see all your old class mates again.

When you reach the venue, you thank the driver, and get out before Chris could reach your side of the car to help you. He looks at you disapprovingly and you just nudge his shoulder and grab his hand. You pull your phone out of your clutch and text Ethan to let him know you’ve arrived.

“Ah shit,” you hear Chris say beside you. You look over at him confused and see him tucking his shirt into his pants. “You noticed the buttons but not that it was untucked?”

“Cuffs, too,” you point out, and he buttons his cuffs while you walk with your arm in his into the old school gym. The music is loud, and of course it’s mostly 90s and early 2000s.

“I have to piss,” you hear Chris say.

“Oh my god, Chris,” you laugh. “We just got here.”

“I’m sorry,” he replies adjusting his pants. You point him towards the bathroom, he kisses your cheek quickly and walks off.

You begin to make your way over to the bar they’ve set up, and Ethan catches up with you.

“Y/n!” the familiar voice calls. You turn to see him rushing towards you, and you pull him into a hug. “Where’s Chris?” he asks when he pulls away from your friendly embrace.

“Bathroom,” you roll your eyes.

“Of course,” he laughs. “Let’s get you a drink.”

Ethan walks with you to the bar, catching up with you since it had been a couple months since you had last seen each other. Of course there wasn’t much new to talk about since you’d text and call him every time something exciting or annoying happens.

When you reach the bar, you notice name tags sitting at the far end. ‘oh geez,’ you think to yourself and go to find yours.

“I already grabbed it for you,” Ethan says, fishing it out of his pocket. “Don’t want anyone seeing your school photo from senior year.”

“Oh my god, shut up,” you laugh and take the tag from your friend, noticing that he had crossed out ‘Ms Y/n Y/l/n’ and put ‘soon Mrs Y/n Evans’. You laugh at your best friend and his silliness.

“Oo, I haven’t seen it yet,” Ethan says and grabs your left hand, holding it up to his face to inspect your engagement ring. “So much prettier than the pictures, hon.”

“Thanks,” you blush.

“That man sure does have a wallet,” he pesters you.

You look at him with the ‘stop it’ face, and he puts his hands up, defeated. You both hear his name get called, and he turns to see his girlfriend waving him over. You wave at her politely and she smiles back at you.

Ethan looks at you. “Get him to send me a link,” he says, pointing to your ring with a wink as he walks back to his date.

You straighten your back, standing tall trying to hid your nerves of currently being alone at this horrid event. You only came to flaunt Chris. He wasn’t your only accomplishment, but he’s the one most people would notice, or talk about.

The bartender hands you your drink, you thank him and put it down beside you while you stuff the name tag into you purse, not wanting to put it on.

“Y/n?” you hear a voice call. You look up and see a woman parade towards you.

You curse to yourself, wishing you hadn’t been noticed. Your personality and style had changes a lot in the past 20 years, and you rarely post online, but your face never really changes.

Except for her. You recognized most people here, but you didn’t recognize her, yet she wore a name tag, so she had gone to your school. You couldn’t quite read the name tag, and as politely as possible, you look at her quizzically, silently asking who she is.

“It’s Stephanie!” she say excited. Your taken aback. You thought she was overly pretty in high school, being a popular cheerleader, but apparently not pretty enough, because she had obviously had some unnecessary work done. Talk a bout a Karen. Not only did her appearance surprise you, but the fact that she was talking to you. She had been a terrible friend, that you wish you’d never had, and you both said some nasty things at graduation. Why is she acting like nothing happened?

“Oh, hi,” you greet her. She starts a dreaded, yet casual conversation to catch up, luckily focusing it on herself so you don’t have to talk about you, but that’s natural for her -- being the center of attention. She tells you about her husband, a lawyer, who unfortunately couldn’t make it to the event. She tells you she’s his secretary, and that they have 3 kids. 4, 9, and 15. You zone out at the rest, wondering how she met a lawyer and had a kid with him at 23. It seemed unreal for her to actually find real love and not just be playing a game. You concluded that they probably hooked up once or twice, and she got pregnant and with her master manipulation somehow convinced him to stay.

“What about you?” she asks, and your shoulders drop, not wanting to talk about your own life. “I heard you and Ethan started sleeping together in college. He’s always been hot. Is that still a thing?”

“No, it’s not. I’m -” you begin but get interrupted buy someone clearing their throat behind Stephanie. She turns around and sees Chris standing behind her.

Chris looks surprised, angry even, He considered Ethan a friend at this point, but he was unaware of the fact he just heard. You didn’t think to mention it, it having been so many years ago. It didn’t seem relevant or important until Stephanie let it slip.

She was dumb-struck looking at Chris. “Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed. “I heard you were here. I didn’t want to believe it until I saw it for myself. Who are you here with?”

Chris walks around her and over to you, wrapping his arm around your waist. “My fiance,” he answers. He grabs your hand and holds it out for Stephanie to see the large rock on your left ring finger. You blush as her jaw practically hits the floor.

She takes a step closer to the two of you, Chris towering over you both. “How much did she pay you?” she laughs, obviously not believing the situation. “How did she pay you? She certainly couldn’t afford something this extreme.”

You scoff and roll your eyes, thinking it typical of her. Chris looks at her in disbelief and pulls you away from the snooty bitch, his arm wrapped tightly around you. He pulls you out of the gym to the lobby, walking so fast you could barely keep up, and you were stumbling over your heels.

“Chris what’re you doing?” you ask, worried.

He drops his arm from around you and turns away from you, several steps away. he runs his hands over his face and through his hair.

“Chris?” you say again, more concerned. He only ever acted like this when he was mad, and seeing him mad was never pleasant.

He turns back to you, dropping his arms by his side. “How long?”

“How long what, Chris?” you are still very confused.

“Don’t bullshit me and try to play dumb, Y/n,” he says, his voice gradually getting louder. “How long were you and Ethan sleeping together?”

You sigh, finally realizing what this was about. You could always tell he was wary of Ethan, you just wondered how long it would take him to say something. You look up at him, a mix of angry and sad tears prickling your eyes.

“How long?!” he yells.

You wince, feeling lucky that the music in the gym was so loud. “A year or two,” you say quietly and he huffs, throwing his arms up in the air, “but it doesn’t matter.”

Chris turns away from you again, facing the wall and slamming his hand against it. You know it wasn’t anywhere near full force because he showed no sign of the impact against the brick wall hurting him. You jump back, intimidated by him.

“There were never any strings attached,” your voice cracks. “It was purely friends with benefits. We both just needed the physical affection.” As you try to explain, you step closer to him, putting your hand on his shoulder as he leans against his forearm up against the wall with his head hanging, pinching the bridge of his nose.

He jerks away from your touch as soon as your hand grazes his shirt. “Do you know how many ‘friends with benefits’ relationships end in feelings, Y/n?” he looks at you, astounded. “Your mom always wanted you to marry him anyway!” He takes a few breaths, but you don’t dare try to interrupt him. “And you just expect me to believe that Hot-Shot Ethan, who can have whoever the fuck he wants, chose to fuck around with you?” His voice is louder than it had ever been when talking to you.

His words hit you like a slap across the face. Like high school all over. Before college, before you cut off trying to find a romantic interest, all you had ever been was used, played, lead on. Then forgotten about or thrown away. A sob wracks through your body, and you take off your engagement ring. The logical part of you knows he’s just saying this because he’s mad, and he wouldn’t have asked you to marry him if he were just using you. But then your paranoid and insecure side tells you he is, that he’s just with you because the media thinks he needs a wife. It tells you you’ve never been good enough, and you never will be. You grip the ring tightly in your hand, the stone pressing into your soft skin.

“He trusts me, Chris,” you say weakly, covering your sobs with your other hand. “And I thought you did, too.” Your voice is broken, and you sound nothing like your normally composed self. You press your hand with the ring against his chest. “I thought you loved me. But apparently I’m wrong about a lot of things.” You let the ring drop from your hand as you pull away from him and trudge away, your broken heart making it difficult for you to walk straight. You hear Chris calling after you, asking you to wait. Saying not to go, but you ignore his pleads and open the door, stepping into the rain unfazed, letting your feet take you anywhere away from here.

Chris watches you leave, wanting to run after you but glued to the spot. The words that left his mouth astound him. The creaky gym door open behinds him, and he swings around to see Ethan walking towards him. Chris wants to scream, maybe even throw a punch, but all energy suddenly sucked from his body, he can only collapse on the bench next to him.

“What’s wrong?” Ethan asks as Chris hangs his head in his hands and puts pressure on his eyes with his palm. “I asked Stephanie where Y/n went, she said you pulled her out of the gym really suddenly.”

“I should be screaming at you right now,” Chris says, his voice loud, but hoarse from the need to cry burning his throat. “How could you to just hide the fact you were sleeping together and go around like it never happened. Are you still?”

Realization hits Ethan. Stephanie hears everything about everyone, and word spreads fast, especially since you and Ethan both went to the local university. She would spill anything she hears in high school, craving the drama. Evidently, some people never change.

“That was nothing,” Ethan explains. “We were both lonely college kids, and old friends who needed company. We were comfortable around each other, it was just easy. But it meant nothing. Not feelings developed on either side.”

“Why’d you stay friends with her?” Chris’ voice finally breaks.

“We’ve been best friends since kindergarten, and we mutually agreed to stop when we left college. I’m not just going to abandon her like everyone else she let close. It shouldn’t matter. We didn’t think it would because she loves and is completely committed to you. You should at least know by now that she doesn’t take loyalty lightly.”

Chris’ body shakes as he tries to hold back his tears and he doesn’t say anything.

A shiny glint a ways from Chris’ foot, and bends down, finding your engagement ring on the ground. “Where’d she go?” Ethan asks, picking up the ring. “Where’s Y/n, Chris?”

“She left,” Chris sobs. “I -” he inhales deeply. “I told her a hot-shot like you wouldn’t chose her.”

“Chris, what the fuck?!”

“I know! I-I just couldn’t bare the thought of losing her to you -- to someone she’s known her whole life. I just love her so much any possible threat of losing her blinds me and I just say stupid shit that I don’t really think. I can’t lose her; she’s the best thing to every happen to me.”

Ethan, knowing you so well, and loving you like a sister, fights the urge to hit Chris, knowing he’ll most likely lose, for one, and for two that won’t help the situation. Chris is already extremely distraught, so there’s no need to physically drill him with the emotional damage he’s done.

“I know where she might me,” Ethan starts. “I’ll go find her. You go back to the hotel before you do anything else you’ll regret.”

Chris jumps off the bench, angry. “No, you stay the hell away from her! Just because I fucked up by saying that shit doesn’t mean I trust you,” he yells, almost the top of his voice, and jabs a finger into Ethan’s chest, pushing him backwards slightly.

“I know her better than you do, jackass,” Ethan yells back at Chris. “She won’t talk to you anyway, at least not now. We’re best friends, and I have always been there for her as she has for me. One thing I do know without being with her right now, Y/n needs you. Not because she can’t support herself, but because she loves you so damn much. But after what you just said, her walls are going to built back higher than they were when you met her because she feels like she can’t have you. And if she can’t have you -- the love of her life -- then she won’t want anyone. So she needs me. She needs a friend’s shoulder to cry on, someone to tell her everything is going to be okay. Someone she can trust and vent to like she always has. So, yeah, Chris. I am going to find her.”

Ethan turns and walks out the doors before Chris can protest further, shoving your engagement ring in his pocket in hopes of convincing you to take it, and Chris back. He get’s outside, and a nostalgic feeling hits him, and guides him to the most logical place you’d be before he could even thing about it. He did think about it once he realized where he was going. And he felt like a teenager again, running after his best friend who just got her heart ripped out. That was true, accept he was twenty years older now. So he goes to the place you’d always run and hide, where he could always find you when he lost you. He goes to the park, a couple streets over from the school. The walk is longer than he remembers, and he sympathizes for you, thinking about the heels and dress you’re wearing, how cold you must be in the freezing rain with no jacket, only a thin dress. The walk always seemed shorter and less inclined as a kid, but that was probably because being 20 years younger gave you more energy.

He reaches the park, passing the play grounds you and him used to play on as kids, and even some as teenagers. He heads to the back, where a large open space sits, a stage at the front of it. Local bands or school music groups would play on the stage sometimes, mostly during the holidays, otherwise it was unused. As he had suspected, he saw you sitting on the stage, your feet hanging off the edge. He walks closer, picking his pace to a faster jog, and stops at the wall of the stage, when he’s below you, making you look at him as you look at your feet.

You look at his worried expression when you see him, and the tears the stopped not long ago came running back. You thought you had dried out your eyes to the point you couldn’t cry anymore, but it turns out you were emotionally numb to the pain you’ve already felt. Cut the knife into the wound more, and you could still feel it.

Ethan climbs the stage, sitting next to you and wrapping his arm around your shaking form. Shaking from the cold, and crying. He holds you a moment, letting you lean on his shoulder as you cry, before he says anything.

“Y/n,” he starts, but you don’t respond. You don’t even look at him. “You should go talk to Chris.”

You inhale shakily as you sit up. “I thought he was different,” you sob. “I thought he’d be different than everyone else. Everyone just treats me like shit. Use me. Lead me on. Play me. Throw me away. Forget about me. He’s the same as all of them. I always thought he’d be different. Even when he was just a stupid celebrity crush. But I was wrong. I’m always wrong. He used me, played me. Worse than anyone. It’s all I’ve ever gotten. Maybe it’s what I deserve. I’ve never been good enough”

“Oh, shut the fuck up, Y/n,” Ethan exclaims. “You are worth everything. You’re an amazing friend, an amazing person. You’re unbelievably smart -- you’re an attending surgeon for god’s sake. You did that on your own. You’re strong and you don’t let anything challenge you.”

“That’s because i got over everyone treating me like shit.” You laugh at your own stupidity, wiping at your tears. “I avoided talking to anyone if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. But then Chris waltzes into my life, convinced me he’s the love of my life, and then rips my heart out.”

“Chris is the love of your life, stupid,” Ethan laughs. “His love for you -- God, I’ve never seen anything like it. That man loves you more than anything. He’s scared of losing you, Y/n, and, take it from another guy, we get scared and we say shit we would never mean. He’s broken. He broke himself when he said that, and in all honesty, he seems more broken then you. You need each other.”

You sit, listening to your best friend go on about this. And as much as you hate to admit it, Ethan’s right. “Fine,” you sigh.

Ethan orders you an Uber back to the hotel and waits with you in comfortable silence until it arrives. When it does, he stops you before opening the door, and pulls your ring out of his pocket, placing it gingerly in your hand. He opens the door for you, tells the drive to turn on the heat, and waves you off. You get the impression that the drive see’s you’re not in the mood for casual conversation.

When you get up to your hotel room, you quietly open the door. Chris is laying on the bed, crying against the pillow you slept against last night. He’s still wearing his button up and slacks.

“Chris,” you call, barely above a whisper, but still loud enough so he can hear you.

Chris doesn’t respond, thinking his mind is playing tricks on him.

You put your wet clutch down on the table and crawl onto the bed next to him, wrapping your arms around his shaking body. You had never seen him like this before, and you absolutely hate it. As you hold him, you begin to cry again with hi, silently but your body still trembles.

“Chris,” you sob out against his shoulder.

He sits up, leaving your arms but then pulling you into his. Your smeared makeup stains his shirt, but he doesn’t care. He only cares that he has you. As he holds you, he says he’s sorry, over and over again. You cry into his chest, gripping onto his shirt. Chris holds your head in his sizable hand, holding you to him as he cries, kissing your hair.

You stay like that, with him repeatedly saying he’s sorry. After a few moments in each other’s arms, where you’re meant to be, you both calm down. Chris moves, cradling your cheeks gently in his hands, wiping the tears away from your eyes.

“Y/n,” he says, still breathing shakily as the aftershocks of your bodies persist to wrack through you. “I’m so, so sorry. I never meant any of that. You’re the love of my life, and you are perfect in every way shape and form. Any guy would be the luckiest to call you theirs like I get to. I was just scared -- terrified of losing you. Especially to someone you know so well. Someone who has been there for you practically your whole life. I felt like I can’t compete.

You look up at him, tears prickling your eyes again. “You used my biggest insecurity against me,” you tell him, sobs convulsing you once more.

He grabs your waist, pulling you into his lap and stoking your hair. “I’m sorry. I was wrong to ever suggest anything like that. You’re more than good enough. If anything, you’re too good for anyone. I sure as hell don’t deserve you. You deserve the pure world, and I would give it to you in a heartbeat if I could, but this corrupt piece of shit planet we live on doesn’t deserve you. You’re just too good.” With his words, his constant reassurance, you begin to calm down again. “Everyone from your past is stupid. High school and college kids are all drama, sex crazed maniacs. Some people -- you -- don’t deserve to be around such bullshit for so long. That’s life, and there’s no easy way to avoid it. You’re so strong and you prevailed through all you’ve been through. All those assholes were naive. If they had actually taken the time to get to know you, like I do, and if they would get over their stupid everlasting pubescent hormones, like I did, they’d all be begging for you, like I do, and they’d love you more than anything. Like I do. Those five minutes after the bathroom before I found you, when I did find you, everyone’s eyes were on you. You;re beautiful, and when you’re confident like you’ve become it just radiates more. It’s more noticeable. You’ve become so confident since college, you’re still the same adorable geek, but you own it, you don’t shy away from it anymore. You’re proud to be you, and not many people can say that.” He kisses the top of your head as he finishes his spiel.

You look up at him, caressing his cheek gently as you look at him with all the love in the world. “I don’t deserve you, Chris,” you smile pathetically.

“No,” he says seriously. “Nuh-uh. Nope. Don’t start that bullshit. You’re a puppy.”

You laugh, looking at him confused.

“Puppies deserve anything they want, but they’re too precious and must be protected at all costs. So are you. Therefore, you are a puppy.”

“How much time have you been spending on twitter?” you laugh at him, feeling overwhelmed with love.

He nudges your shoulder, and you purposely over react and fall over dramatically as he gets off the bed. He takes you into the bathroom and you both get cleaned up from the eventful night that felt like a whole week. You shower together, but neither of you let things get steamy, as you’ve both agreed that sex is not the appropriate way to make up a mistake or argument. He holds you while in the shower, your back pressed to his chest, and he just admires you lovingly as he washes your back. You get in the bed together after putting some random late-night reruns on the TV, and you lay in his arms.

“My beautiful wife-to-be, you fit so perfectly into my arms,” Chris says, kissing your shoulder. “You were made for me, and I can’t wait to marry you. It’s already the best day of my life, and it hasn’t happened yet.”

You giggle at his lovey-ness, and settle comfortable into your fiance’s arms, falling asleep with ease in your favorite place.

------

A/n ok now i feel hella fucking lonely, don’t know if you could tell, but i used things my therapist tells me, all while helping my friend deal with his friends. this took forever, and i don’t know how it ended up here, but i love it and my heart is just tangled in different emotions. like damn i need a man like chris/seb but that’s never gonna happen because im not good enough :’)

#chris evans #chris evans x reader #chris evans imagine #Steve Rogers #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers imagine #marvel #marvel imagine

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chrismho · 4 years ago

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Lakmé

Summary: Is this not the closest I’ve ever been to living? The Kurosaki Family invites Rukia along with them to the Opera. Ichiruki/Rukia-centric one-shot inspired by the opera scene in Moonstruck. Set a little bit after FB arc.

PS: It’s a pretty famous song but if you haven’t heard Flower Duet before, I highly rec you give this rendition a listen, it’s breathtaking! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9NK-EbUAao

“ICHIGOOOOOOO! RUKI-CHAAAAAN!”

SMACK!

A day in the Kurosaki household was not complete without at least one collision between Isshin’s face and either Ichigo’s foot or fist.

“I don't know how many times I have to tell you, old man: QUIT DOING THAT!” Ichigo roared, swiftly kicking his father back to the other side of the living room.

Rukia waited patiently for Isshin to complete this strange ritual, a fond smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Oh, Masaki!” Isshin sobbed, throwing himself upon his poster. “H-how cruel, how unloving our son has become! And Rukia at his side, so pure and lovely! W-we truly have here a beauty and the beast!”

“SHUT IT!”

The dark-haired shinigami watched them butt heads and felt a vague sense of nostalgia swirl inside her. I didn’t realize how much I…missed this, she silently admitted to herself. Seventeen months had passed and Rukia kept herself busy with work--very busy. Too busy to stop and realize just how much she missed life in Karakura. But now that she was back, the realization was sudden and overwhelming; she missed late night hollow-hunting, the bustling hallways at Karakura High, she missed Keigo, Mizuiro, Tatsuki, she missed indulging in her schoolgirl act, pretending that she was human and truly one of them. But most of all, she missed him. That was a realization that had set Rukia very much on edge. Ichigo was a comrade, a partner, a friend. A friend she found herself pining for in those seventeen months. She recalled a saying she learned in the human world, something along the lines of “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.

Absence had only made Rukia’s heart confused as hell.

Though almost two years had passed, her relationship with Ichigo picked up almost right where they left off. They bickered, laughed, they understood each other without need for words. But…now there was something new. No, not new; it had always been there. But now....now it was loud. And hard to ignore. It was something that Rukia couldn’t quite name, but its presence was undeniable. It wasn’t uncomfortable...but… but it was there.

“What do you say, Rukia-chan? Oh, please say you’ll be joining us?”

Isshin’s question snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Eh? I-I’m sorry?” she asked, startled.

“THE OPERA! An old buddy and colleague of mine has season tickets to the opera house here in Karakura. He’s away on a business trip so he gave me tickets to tomorrow’s show. We haven’t seen you in so long, the girls would just love if you came! SAY YOU’LL JOIN US!”

“Don’t push her, Dad!” Ichigo said irritably. He turned to Rukia but didn’t meet her gaze. “Seriously, y-you don’t have to go. It’s really boring, the last time I went I wanted to die-”

“OH, BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE,” Isshin cut off gleefully, shoving Ichigo out of the way and putting an arm around Rukia. “The last time we went, Ichigo was but a boy. Though only eight at the time, he was so moved by the performance that he wept and blubbered all night long--”

“HEY! N-NO I DIDN’T!”

“Yes, you did!” Karin called boredly from the kitchen.

Ichigo hunched up his shoulders and scowled, his ears and cheeks an angry shade of red.

“I’d be delighted to attend this...this ‘op-ohr-a’, Mr. Kurosaki!” Rukia declared, a cheerful and sparkly smile on her face. “Excellent! Come tomorrow evening at 7, and dress your very best, my dear! The opera is a most formal event,” Isshin beamed.

“Whatever. And get your arm off her!” Ichigo grumbled, yanking Rukia away from his father and up the stairs to his room.

“Ah, young love,” Isshin sighed after them. “Eager to get her to your bedroom, I see? Yes, yes, I’m sure you have a lot of catching up to do, if you catch my drift--”

“SHUT UP!” Ichigo screamed over his shoulder. He hurried Rukia inside his room and slammed the door shut.

“Nice to see the family dynamic hasn’t changed,” Rukia said, a sly smile on her face. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall alongside his bed.

“1000 Yen says my dad’s got an ear pressed up to the door right now,” Ichigo replied. He sounded annoyed but there was a humorous glint in his eye. He looked up and met her gaze. They both dissolved into a quiet, gentle chuckle.

“Feel free to sit, you know,” Ichigo said, gesturing towards the bed. “I know it’s been a while but time’s never stopped you from acting like you own this place.”

“No, that’s okay. I’m fine here,” Rukia responded, cursing herself for answering him a little too vehemently. Ichigo looked at her questioningly, and Rukia could have sworn she saw a very, very faint blush creep on his cheeks. A moment of silence passed.

Tension. That’s what it was.

“So what is this opera thing, anyway? I just realized I agreed to something I know nothing about,” Rukia asked, eager to change the subject and genuinely curious about this “most formal event” that moved a young Ichigo to tears.

“It’s, uh, like a play. But with only singing. Really loud, annoying singing. And fancy costumes. And they usually end in tragedy.” Ichigo said, scratching the back of his head.

Her amusement at his fumbling explanation made Rukia forget her discomfort earlier. She smirked and flopped onto his bed. “Sounds like fun. So this loud, annoying play moved you to tears, eh?”

“IT DID NOT-Hmph, *ahem*, It did not move me to tears, I told you already that I found it boring. And I SAID YOU COULD SIT ON MY BED, NOT LIE ON IT!”

“Oh, Daddy, th-they’re on his bed already! They certainly are fast, aren’t they?” a muffled voice that sounded suspiciously like Yuzu’s could be heard saying from the other side of the door.

Ichigo’s left eye twitched.

He swung the door open and Isshin and Yuzu tumbled onto the floor. “SCRAM!” He roared, shaking his fist as they hurriedly fled the scene.

_____

Giant, crystal chandeliers hung over the U-shaped hall, twinkling prettily in the warm, golden light. The house was packed with many well-dressed and well-to-do people. The euphony of various conversations and chatter rang pleasantly in the air. If Ichigo had been moved to tears by the place alone, Rukia would understand; it was truly, truly beautiful. She tilted her head back, taking in the glittering chandeliers and intricate paintings of flowers and stars on the ceiling. She must have looked visibly awestruck, for she turned to her side to find Ichigo looking back at her, an odd, almost tender smile on his face. She gave him a sharp elbow in the ribs. “What? What’s with that dumb look?” She snapped.

“AGH! What the hell, Rukia?” He glared, letting out a sharp exhale before putting on another smile, this one more teasing. “N-nothing, I was just thinking...the last time I was here as a kid, I remember looking up at the paintings on the ceiling and counting all the stars as a way to pass the time. I guess I was just wondering if you were doing the same.”

Rukia blinked. It was rare for Ichigo to divulge….well, really anything about his past and his memories. To share this random little anecdote felt oddly intimate. She felt her cheeks warm slightly and turned away. “Heh, no I wasn’t counting, I was just...admiring. She looked back up and couldn’t help but laugh. “Ichigo, there are hundreds of stars, up there! Did you really count them all?” He looked up too and smiled wryly, shaking his head. “Nah, the show always started and the lights would go off before I ever finished. But...I like that I don’t know. It’s this weird, unfinished mystery that just...stays up there on the ceiling, y’know?”

His amber eyes and fiery-orange hair glowed in the warm light of the hall. He glowed. Does he even know how handsome he looks in that stupid tux? Rukia thought, torn between feeling endeared and annoyed. And spewing out weird, lovely musings like that, too. What an idiot.

She looked down at the program in her lap. In intricate, gold cursive, the words Lakmé: Opera en 3 Actes shone smack dab in the middle. “Is...is this in French?” she asked. “Yeah, but it’s okay; you see those black screens above the curtains up there? They’ll have translations…”

The lights began to dim.

Quickly, stealthily, Ichigo stole one last look at Rukia in full light. She was already a beautiful woman but tonight she practically glowed. With the help of Yuzu and Karin, she had parted her cropped hair to one side and teased it into elegant waves. She had reluctantly let them put makeup on her, too, and Ichigo had a hard time keeping his eyes away from her lips, soft and painted red like a pomegranate. She was wearing a dress that Ishida had surprised her with a few weeks ago, a wine-colored sleeveless piece that gently hugged her form and flowed past her knees. Yeah. She glowed. It was annoying.

Y’know, I bet she knows exactly how good she looks and is only pretending to be oblivious. He thought. What an idiot.

The red velvet curtains pulled back to reveal what looked like a stone courtyard on stage, adorned with all sorts of plants and exotic flowers. But the set was nothing compared to the music that emanated from the pit in front of the stage. She’d never heard anything like this. Not on the streets of Rukongai, nor in the banquets and gatherings in Seireitei. What was it Ichigo had called them? An orchestra. An orchestra, an orchestra, an orchestra. She had to remember that word. How so many voices, so many different strange and wonderful-looking instruments, could come together and create a sound so unified and sweet amazed her.

A procession of people dressed in long, unstitched garments came onto the stage, singing words Rukia could not understand. A big man, clad in a costume beard and yellow robe, opened his mouth and began to sing a solo.

Rukia froze.

It was obvious what he was doing required much skill, but….he sounded...funny? Rukia narrowed her eyes and fought a smile, trying to reason with this deep voice that shook with such a fervent vibrato.

She heard a snicker two chairs away from her, and turned to see Karin in the dim light, her face contorted humorously. Rukia was about to join her before Isshin turned to his daughter with a glare so scary and dangerous that any humor at all in both Karin and Rukia was effectively vanquished.

So entranced was she by the costumes and lights and flutes and cellos that the dark-haired shinigami found herself forgetting to glance up at the translations above the stage. She looked just enough times to gather that this was set in a temple in which rites were being performed. The ritual ended, and as smoothly as they glided in, the singers drifted back off the stage, leaving behind two women.

The women, arm in arm, walked down to the “river” on stage to gather flowers. The one dressed in red turned to her companion and began to sing:

Viens, Mallika, les lianes en fleurs

Jettent déjà leur ombre

Sur le ruisseau sacré

qui coule, calme et sombre,

Eveillé par le chant des oiseaux tapageurs.

Rukia froze once more. This time, there was no urge to laugh. Goosebumps rose on her arms. Her ears tingled. What, Rukia thought shakily. What is this?

The other, dressed in a simpler, sun-colored dress answered her friend in a voice just as haunting and sweet:

Oh! maîtresse, c'est l'heure

où je te vois sourire,

L'heure bénie où je puis lire

Dans le coeur toujours fermé

De Lakmé!

Rukia clenched her teeth, maintaining a stone-cold Kuchiki expression while her soul inside shook and quaked.

What is this?

Dôme épais le jasmin

Sous le dôme épais où le blanc jasmin

Like flowers landing on the surface of a pond, their voices floated, glided, rippled through the hall, lighter than air.

À la rose s'assemble

The melody seemed to follow some invisible wave that drifted down, then up, then down, and down again. It was elegantly unpredictable, like the path a feather takes on the way to the ground.

Rukia’s throat caught. The swelling in her chest bewildered and almost angered her. This...this beauty was almost cruel. Her eyes felt hot. Her face remained expressionless.

Rive en fleurs, frais matin,

Sur la rive en fleurs, riant au matin,

I never did get the chance to understand what it is to live, Rukia thought. She had, in fact, died when she was only a baby.

I....could see traces of what life was in the youth and excitement of Ichigo and his friends...the sound of their laughter, their chatter about the future.

Nous appellent ensemble.

Viens, descendons ensemble.

With each rise and fall of their voices, Rukia felt as though her soul was expanding. The singers’ figures became blurry behind the tears that began to well in her eyes.

But this…this swelling in my chest, and the goosebumps on my skin. My throat...feels tight.

A tear broke free and began to trickle down her cheek.

Is this not the closest I’ve ever been to living?

Ichigo gazed steadily at the stage, letting himself float and drift with the melody. It was no wonder the Flower Duet was such a famous song, even to those unfamiliar with opera. He cleared his throat as quietly as he could and turned to check on Rukia. His jaw clenched.

Ah! glissons en suivant

Doucement glissons; De son flot charmant

She stood absolutely still, upright, her small, pale hands clenched into fists on her lap. She did not look at him. He watched with well-hidden astonishment as a single tear rolled down her cheek. She stared solemnly at the women on stage, blinking slowly. Her amethyst eyes glistened with the water and salt that filled them.

Le courant fuyant

Suivons le courant fuyant

A lump began to form in Ichigo’s throat. He turned away, back to the stage. He couldn’t put into words what she was feeling, but he felt he understood it. He didn’t want to intrude on her moment, but he also wanted to let her know that she was not alone. Even when they were worlds apart, he’d find a way to reach her. Slowly, his hand moved towards hers.

His fingertips lightly brushed her wrist, and traveled up towards the back of her hand.

Rukia kept her eyes fixed on the singers. She gave no indication that she even noticed his hand on hers. A twinge of disappointment and embarrassment stung him. I...probably ruined her moment. I shouldn’t have-

His heart stopped. Silently, suddenly, the slender, cold hand seized his own. She intertwined her fingers with his and squeezed lightly. She did not look at him.

Dans l'onde frémissante,

Dans l’onde frémissante

To this day Ichigo couldn’t say what the hell compelled him to do what he did next. Maybe it was the nearly two years of separation, or the swelling music and stupid, glittering, chandeliers messing with his head, or the way she gripped his fingers with such a quiet and loving intensity, or a mix of all of those things. Slowly, he raised her hand up, off her lap.

D'une main nonchalante,

D’une main nonchalante,

Rukia stirred, tilting her head slightly towards him. He brought her hand up to his face and slowly, gently, firmly, pressed his lips against her knuckles. Rukia’s eyes flashed wide open, and now she turned to look at him. Another tear rolled silently down her otherwise stoic face. Ichigo opened his eyes and looked back at her.

Dôme épais, blanc jasmin,

Sous le dôme épais, Sous le blanc jasmin,

Nothing was said, but a thousand words were exchanged between them. Ichigo lowered her hand but did not let go. They held their gaze for a moment longer, then turned their heads back towards the stage.

Nous appellent ensemble!

Ah! descendons ensemble!

#ichiruki #lakme #sooo sappy hehe opera makes me WEAK #im literally frasier #ichigo kurosaki #rukia kuchiki #ichiruki fanfiction #deathberry

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pompompossum · 4 years ago

Text

Man, not to ship bash but I find LucJean to be really funny because it just reminds me of the type of wlw & mlm friendship where you're just acting as each other's beard 24/7.

Crepus and Frederica know that none of their kids are straight but sit with a smile and a nod each time they see the three of them group together during formal events, taking turns dancing to avoid matchmakers and potential suitors.

#diluc and jean can't work for me because Diluc reminds me of every rich closeted twink I've ever seen on my uni campus #Kaeya is flagrantly bisexual and Jean is straight passing so it's not quite the same #not a single heterosexual in Mondstadt except for Pallad

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jawritter · 5 years ago

Text

Promised

Chapter 2

**Series Warnings!! ** ABO dynamics! Smut, unprotected smut, knotting, claiming, mating, heat, rut, language, overly protective Jensen, age gap! 19-year-old reader, 41-year-old Jensen, virgin reader, loss of virginity, sort of an arranged marriage, hint at possible mob type settings.

Story Description:

In a world where your presentation can be a blessing or a curse, a newly presented Omega will come face to face with the harsh reality of Alphas, Omegas, and pack alliances that are expected to be upheld with the union of your two families…

A/N: Pt.2!!! Please don’t copy my stuff! Feedback is welcomed! If you want to be added to the series tag list, or just my tag list in general let me know! Cross-posted on Wattpad! Hope you enjoy it!! This is my first ABO series so be nice lmao!

Word Count: 2251

Pairing: Jensen x reader, Father x Reader, Alan Ackles x Reader. OFC Sister X Reader

"Y/N! There you are," your dad says, grabbing you in a tight one-armed hug.

"Hey, squirt! Happy birthday!" your uncle David said, grabbing you in a hug as soon as your father let you go.

Your uncle was an okay guy, or at least you liked him. He was big and loud, usually a cut-up at any event. He knew how to lighten the mood, whereas your father on the other hand was all business all the time. He seriously needed to take some pointers from your uncle...

"I assume your sister has filled you in on who your honorary guest will be tonight," he said, pulling you away from the crowd a little, and taking a drink off the server's tray that was passing while making their way through the crowd.

You could feel your heart pounding in your chest, your stomach fluttered with nerves at the very thought of what was to come for you tonight.

"Yes, dad," was all you could say, eyeing the crowd like someone might jump out and attack you any minute.

"Don't worry, he's not here yet," your dad said, looking you over to make sure you were what he thought was presentable.

"When they get here you are to stay close to him until he dismisses you, act like he's already your Alpha because with any luck he will before tomorrow night."

You nod, not saying anything, trying to mentally prepare yourself for what was expected of you.

"Now you remember the protocol. Walk behind him when in the presents of other Alphas or any formal guest. You are to stand there and look pretty. I know that sounds bad, but that's the shortest version I can describe to you right now because they're going to be here at any moment." your dad said, checking his watch before looking around at the crowd.

"Dad, I'm scared," you tell him, overcome by emotions you feel like your about to start crying. It's easy for all those other Omega women to follow their Alpha around like that because you assume that it's instinct. You though, don't have that instinct.

"Afraid of what hun?" your dad asked, turning his full attention to you for the first time as you take a deep breath to trying to keep the tears from falling. The last thing you needed was to be a crying mess when Jensen and Alan arrived.

"What if he doesn't think I'm pretty enough? I'm don't look like those women he sees in Holywood. I haven't presented yet. I'm not an Omega. What if he rejects me? What if I smell repulsive to him? What if..."

Your dad stops your stammering before you could get too hysterical.

"Listen to me Y/N, Jensen isn't that kind of a man. I promise you, he's not interested in that mess that is running around Holywood. He's not that kind of person. You look fine. Also, he's not going to reject you, he's not going to be repulsed by you. Don't overthink this, and don't worry. Just do what's expected of you, and everything will be fine. Trust me, I wouldn't put you in danger. Jensen will love you, you will see." your dad said, giving you a side hug. His phone buzzed loudly, and he looked down at it before looking back up at you, a smile on his face.

"It's time," he said, leading you toward the side entrance into his office just off from the garden.

You felt like you wanted to throw up, cry, and run away screaming all at once. Your heart was pounding so hard in your ears that you were afraid you might pass out. Your dad kept a tight grip on your shoulder like he half expected you to run himself.

"Remember, stay close to him, he's expecting you to act like your already his Omega, so I suggest you don't stray too far from him. This is a good opportunity to get to know him a little before you present. Not everyone gets to meet their Alpha beforehand." your dad says, giving you one last warning look before opening his office door.

There you found Alan sitting behind your father's desk, tapping his hand on the desk while looking through his phone. He looked up at your dad and you when he noticed the door open, a smirk crossing his lips when he looked at you before standing with his hand stretched out to your father.

"Y/D/N! Good to see you again!"

"Alan, It's good to see you again as well," your father greeted the older Alpha like they where old friends.

"How's business in Dallas lately? I have been meaning to make a trip, but I've been so tied down here with training a new assistant I can't seem to get away!"

You didn't hear Alan's response, you were too distracted by the tall Alpha that walked up behind Alan. He was wearing a black suit, with a white dress shirt. His brown/blonde hair styled perfectly in a side sweep, a well-trimed beard of the same color gracing his strong jaw. His broad shoulders filled the suit perfectly. His piercing green eyes stared at you over his father's shoulders. Light lines surround his eyes that you would only assume that if he were to smile would be more prominent. A light dusting of freckles covered his cheeks and nose. He was devastatingly handsome.

"Ah, Y/D/N, this is my son Jensen, Jensen this is Y/D/N, Y/N’s father, and pack leader of the South East Texas pack."

Jensen gave your father a professional-looking smile before shaking your father's hand.

"Nice to finally meet you in person, Jensen," your dad said.

Jensen smiled and nodded his head.

"Nice to meet you as well sir."

The deep rumble of his voice had you suppressing a shiver. Was it legal for a man to be that damn attractive? You were expecting an old graying man that was repulsive. Not a drop-dead gorgeous Greek God. Here he was though, standing there before you like he had every right to do so. He was so attractive it was damn near rude.

"Jensen this is Y/N, my daughter," your dad said, and Jensen's eyes diverted to you.

He smiles warmly, reaching out taking your hand in his leaning down just enough to brush his beautiful full, pink lips over the back of your hand before coming up to smile at you. Your skin tingling like mad where his lips touched you, and your heart stopping for a moment.

The two older Alpha's watching the interaction between the two of you with smiles on their faces.

"Nice to finally meet you, Y/N," Jensen said, his green eyes boring into yours like they could see into your very soul.

You tried your best to return the smile. Hoping you didn't look as stupid as you felt you looked in that moment.

"It's nice to meet you, Alpha," you greeted him formally, bowing your head slightly in submission to him. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all.

Jensen’s chest rumbled in what you could have sworn was a purr, showing his approval of your way of addressing him.

"Please no formalities, sweetheart. It won't be needed tonight."

Offering his arm to you before your fathers walked all of you out of the office, and back into the garden for the dinner party. Both older Alpha exchanging a smirk between them like they all knew something you didn't.

----------------------

The rest of the party went off as planned. You greeted guests that approached you, staying as close to Jensen as he seemed to be allowing you too. Following behind him like your father told you unless he offered you his arm. Giving you permission to then walk next to him, which he seemed to do more often than you expected of him.

It did briefly cross your mind that he was trying to keep physical contact between the two of you to see if it would trigger your heat. You shoved the thought down though, keeping a smile on your face as best you could. Even past your nerves and your fluttering stomach. Especially when Jensen would smile in your direction, or pull out your chair when dinner was served.

Even though you were to follow him around all night the two of you never really had a moment alone. Which you expected, though it made conversation between the two of you almost impossible. All night long other Alpha's in the family would go to Jensen, keeping his attention focused on them. Which you knew was custom in these types of events. Still, you wished you could get to know him a little.

As the night started to come to a close Jensen reached over, offering you his arm one last time before leading you out to the front of the house where there was a sleek black SUV waiting.

Jensen took a seat on the bench in front of the house with you. Your dad and Alan not too far away at all times, but giving the two of you more distance than you ever expected for the first time tonight.

Jensen looked you over, his strong features calm, never changing, or showing any emotion.

"I'm sorry we didn't really have a chance to talk too much. You know how these formal events go. When really we're lucky to have even met each other before..."

He let his words trail off, looking out over the grounds before bringing his attention back to you. Before you even had a chance to say anything, Jensen leaned in close to you, putting his face very close to the pulse point in your neck and inhaled deeply.

He was careful not touching you, but he was so close that you could feel his breath fan your skin. A shiver involuntarily ran down your spine.

When he looked back up at you, you could have sworn his eyes turned a slight shade of gold. His eyes raked over you again, and you sat there speechless. Feeling like an idiot for your voice failing you. Swallowing hard you try to keep your emotions under control. Knowing that he, being an Alpha, he could literally smell fear.

Even though you were drawn to this man in a way you couldn't explain, you also couldn't escape the slight twist in the pit of your stomach that you could only assume was fear. He was an alpha, and not all alphas were not nice. You knew that was a risk you, and any other woman took.

Jensen stood without warning, and you stood next to him. He took your hand in his again. Brushing his lips over the soft skin of the back of your hand, his eyes never leaving yours. Your body shivers again, why do you keep doing that? Where his lips touched your skin it was like an electric current flowed through your body.

You could see Alan and your dad approaching the two of you, and you knew it was time for him to leave. Your heart ached within you. You really didn't want him to leave for some reason.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Alpha," you finally said, bowing your head to him slightly in submission again.

This time he allowed it... That was a change from earlier... Maybe he didn't like you after all. You were so sure when he scented you that maybe he like you.

"See you soon, Omega," he said, turning on his heels, and leaving you standing there with a shocked expression as he joined his father in the car. Giving you a smirk as he closed the door that literally made your heart stop.

You hadn't yet presented? Why did he call you an Omega?

Your dad escorted you back into the house. You were starting to feel tired. The stress of the party you assumed getting to you.

"Dad, if it's okay I think I'm going to turn in, I'm exhausted, and apparently I failed, because he left without me," you said, looking down at your feet, trying not to cry.

Your father was going to lose his position in the pack, and it was all because you were a stupid Beta.

"Sometimes it takes a day or two to show whether your heat is triggered or not. Go to bed, rest, tomorrow is a new day, and we will take it as it comes... I said from the beginning that whatever happens was meant to be. If you present as Omega you have a good man waiting for you."

You smiled a little to yourself.

"Do you think he really liked me, dad?" you asked, thinking back to the Jensen had your skin tingling again where his lips had brushed you.

"I saw him scent you, I'd say he was pleased by what he found. Now don't think about it too much, and go get some rest. I'll clear out the guest and we can all turn in for the night." your dad said before turning on his heels at the foot of the stairs.

Your mind swimming with thoughts of piercing green eyes and strong calloused hands as you climbed out of the shower, and into an oversized sleeping shirt.

Your dad was right, tomorrow was a new day, and hopefully, you would feel better about all this in the morning. Your mind still swimming with thoughts of Jensen and the uncertainties that surrounded your family as you closed your eyes and drifted off to sleep...

Jensen's words still ringing in your head clear and confusing to you in your current state of exhaustion...

"See you soon Omega...."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catch up! Promised Series Masterlist

Tag List:

@deanwanddamons @imabitch4jensen

Series Tag List:

@onethirstyunicorn

#alpha!jensen #alpha!jensen x omega!reader #alpha!jensen ackles #alpha jensen omega x reader #Jensen x reader #Jensen x you #jensen ackles x reader #jensen ackles fanfiction #jensen fic #jensen ackles smut #smut #spn smut #snp fanfiction #dean winchester smut #promised #jawritter #fanfiction

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gildersbane · 4 years ago

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The Gilder’s Bane

“ Portraits “

Boots, loose around the ankles from their laces removed to make a lasso, fell upon stone floors as Princess Petra marched down the corridors. Morning sunlight dipped in through dusty glass in arched windows. Lighting her path as she journeyed past locked doors and prying eyes toward the nursery. A place she’d not been since she was a baby, but which was now the home of a baby sister.

A baby sister who picked a truly terrible time to decide to join them.

They weren’t expecting her for another couple weeks. Maybe if they had been allowed that kind of time, this whole mess would have blown over. Maybe without a new baby in the home and a mother recovering from labor, everyone wouldn’t be on high alert all the time. This would have been a problem, obviously, but they might have actually let it go after a couple days.

But it wasn’t as if they could just put her back. She was here now and everyone was going to have to get used to it. And Petra… Petra was going to have to start setting a “good example”. Whatever that meant. She liked to think that she was setting a fine example as she was.

Steps came to a stop outside the cracked nursery door. Petra pushed it open the rest of the way and peered into the shadows. Inside it was dimly lit, with only a bit of light slipping through the sheer white curtain over the window. It was warm inside from the morning sun beating against the castle but the sleeping little one in the antique bassinet. Looking at this old, plush piece of furniture, the elder princess couldn’t imagine a time when she was ever tiny enough to fit inside it. It sat beneath a lovely canopy of pink cloth that draped around it. Providing a little fortress for the child to rest without light from the outside world slipping in. For now, though, those drapings were withdrawn, as Meliora had just been in here with her daughter. Liking sitting with her in the leather armchair that sat just beside it within the canopy.

The little girl’s eyes didn’t open as Petra approached and looked down at her. She was swaddled in a plush blanket and peacefully sleeping the morning away without a care in the world. Despite the noise from the castle staff hurrying from one wing to another, the construction happening up on the roof and the barking of castle dogs beyond the window in the courtyard below. She didn’t stir. For however much longer that would last before she’d wake and begin to cry again for food or clean dressings or attention. It was a miracle she was able to stay quiet long enough for the nursemaid to step out and fetch something.

Petra leaned against the edge of the bassinet carefully. Looking down at the itty bitty princess as she lay. Her baby soft, warm brown skin. The tuft of dark, fluffy hair on just the very top of her head. She looked more like a doll than a little human.

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” Petra whispered as she stepped back from the child to let her have her rest.

Clearly the currently nameless infant wasn’t in dire need of care. She was fine unattended before Petra showed up, surely she’d be fine for another few minutes while Petra took a walk to clear her head. Luckily she knew just the place for it that happened to be right down the hall. So Petra slipped out of the nursery without a sound, leaving the door ajar so she could hear her sister if she started to cry. A moment later she was walking further down the hall in a direction away from where she’d find anyone else in her family.

This path led Petra to one of the more prestigious halls in the entire castle. Down the hall, down a short flight of stairs and around a corner, she found the portrait hall. A place where portraits of every ruler of Argustead hung along with some of their treasured items. Alongside at least a dozen portraits of people Petra wasn’t certain the identities of. But it was the rulers who had the biggest and most ornate frames.

Aside from the princess and her ancestors this hall was vacant. Everyone had much more important business elsewhere. With her head hung, Petra walked past more than a handful of her ancestors. Her paternal grandparents frowning down at the world in oil paint. A sour looking pair neither Lucien or Petra had ever met. Their parents beside them, looking even more uptight with ruffled collars that looked as if they would soon be swallowed whole. An empty space made to accommodate the portrait that would someday hang for King Lucien- The latest in a long line of great men. And beside that space…

“Hi, Dad.”

Petra’s voice broke the silence that filled the hall with a solemn tone. Her eyes didn’t lift from the floor at first to look at him. But when she did, her chest felt tight and her shoulders heavy. Stoic eyes the same color as her own stared out at the world, seeming to follow her no matter where she stood. His expression was still and lacking any emotion but Petra didn’t mind. It was just good to see him again. King Samuel, late king of Argustead, stood poised with his head high. In his grasp he held his trusty wooden shield. He wore a deep red velvet suit with the silver trim like his own parents wore. Meliora had always used to tease him about looking like a tomato with those red clothes and auburn hair on his stocky body. Over the years he’d grown out the thick ginger beard that covered the lower half of his face in this portrait. It was painted only a couple years ago. Before anyone would have ever considered that the worst could happen.

Below the portrait, hanging on the wall at eye level was an old, worn shield of wood. The one in the portrait but with a few more years and a few more battles added to its life. It’s circular shape had been broken by a large wedge of it having been hacked out by a powerful axe blow. The bronze plate at its center was scratched and dented but sturdy. Damaged as it was, it wouldn’t be of any use in a battle these days. But it had served Samuel well in his life, up until the very end. And when tragedy struck, it was with its king until the bitter end. Meliora had given her blessing to put the shield on display. To immortalize her late husband’s bravery and honor his memory.

‘Honor his memory’...

With a hefty sigh, the princess turned her back to the wall and sank onto the floor. She dropped her head back against the cold stone and closed her eyes tightly. She could feel the frustration rising again just thinking about everything that had happened in the last few weeks. Everyone partying at the Coronation like it was just another celebration, everyone telling her to stop acting the ways she’s always been encouraged to act, hammering in how things would need to be different now.

“How am I supposed to honor your memory if everyone wants to change everything you left behind?”

Petra knew there wouldn’t be an answer, but she needed to ask somebody. Nobody else seemed to understand why she couldn’t just let the past go. Why she didn’t want to stop doing the things he’d taught her to do.

When she was little, Samuel always had an adventure for her. He knew that she’d never have the same esteem as Lucien since she was the second born child to the second queen… So he’d tried his best to give her as much freedom as he could give. As much room to forge her own path as their kingdom could allow. When he realized how much she loved to watch the guards training, he realized that she wasn’t going to be the same kind of reserved and quiet child her brother had been. He asked the captain to let Petra join the younger class of future soldiers. She trained along with the future squires and young hopefuls who longed for the days when they could be a brave knight for the kingdom. Defending their furthest borders from all manner of fiend and foe. It wasn’t the life most kings wanted for their daughters, but Samuel wasn’t blind as they were to what his children needed.

Petra could still remember the swell of joy when she was given the family armor. It wasn’t a full suit, it hadn’t been as long as it was in the royal family’s possession. It had been refitted generations ago to fit a smaller body than the broad shouldered men of their family. It was a perfect fit for Petra. She wore that silver armor as often as she could get away with it. Sometimes even wearing the greaves under her gowns at formal events. She only got in trouble for it a couple of times.

But even that had changed. All because of that sword. The moment she discovered it in that ancient forge, it drastically altered her life. In ways that she still didn’t fully understand. But it was special. Petra could feel it. A smoke creature no one could identify had come out of nowhere to attack her for it. It was a mystery that needed to be solved and nobody but her was even trying. She was certain that if she just went back up to that forge she could find clues. Maybe Petra could learn who put the sword there for her to find it. And maybe figure out why she was having such strange dreams. But Lucien had forbidden her from going back up the mountain. In fact, after her last fight, he’d locked her in the castle indefinitely.

True. It was the worst Petra had ever been beaten in a fight… But the injuries were mostly superficial and wouldn’t even leave scars. Everyone was making a big deal out of the wrong things. She was okay. They needed to find out what was going on.

Why wasn’t anyone on Petra’s side in this?!

“Your highness?”

Her eyes opened with a start and the princess looked around the previously empty hall. The portraits still stared lifelessly out at each other on both sides. The only People in the hall were Petra and…. Whoever the guy at the end of it was.

He didn’t look much older than her. A year or two, tops. He had a long, rounded face Petra may have seen around the castle a few times, but never paid close attention to. Maybe down on the lower floors by the dungeons. Where the court alchemists and royally appointed smart people worked. But this guy didn’t look like he was one of those people. He didn’t look aged or bearded enough for that. Plus he still had a full head of black hair divided into many thick locks atop his head. A lot of those old guys downstairs had long since lost their hair to the years.

He also wasn’t dressed nearly as elegantly as the court mages in their flowing robes. This guy’s clothes looked second hand and well worn. With visible repairs made to the seams of his green overcoat.

“I’m kind of in the middle of something here.” Petra pointed out, gesturing to the portrait over her head.

The boy didn’t seem deterred. In fact he only smiled and walked closer before stopping a couple yards back and bending at the waist to bow.

“Your highness, I was hoping for just a few minutes of your time.” He said, lifting his head to peak up at her. “I heard whispers- gossip really. I had to find out for myself if it was true. Did you truly fight a … monster?”

A loud groan rumbled from the princess’ chest as she hauled herself up onto her feet, “What? Have you come to tell me I’m crazy too? That I should stop running into trouble? Or that it’s my own fault that some big purple smoke monster showed up and attacked me and tried to take MY magic sword?”

The stranger popped up from his bow, eyes wide and sparkling with delight at her words. His face split into a wide grin and his hands dove into the satchel he wore draped across his body. He pulled a roll of wrinkled parchment and a quill out and took a few steps more toward Petra.

“Crazy? It sounds exciting! In fact, I was hoping that you would allow me to be the one to document your account of the events.”

This was definitely a surprise to Petra. This guy was the first to volunteer to listen to her.

“Who are you?” She asked, her brow furrowing curiously as she looked him over, “Why do you want my account? Hasn’t the king already given everyone the official story?”

Petra nearly rolled her eyes. Yes. Lucien’s story had, of course, been that the assault on her had been an isolated incident and not a reason for panic. That the one responsible would soon be brought to justice and that their peace wouldn’t be disturbed. Petra wondered if anyone actually believed it.

With a sheepish smile, the young man bowed his head once again. “My name is Micha Fontaine. I’m an apprentice to the royal archivist. Mostly I help keep our scrolls organized and make sure the old books get dusted. But I’m hoping to change that.”

He righted himself and clutched his paper to his chest with purpose, his eyes full of resolve.

“Can I speak my mind, your highness?” Micha asked, his tone hopeful but careful. Petra gave a shrugging nod. She figured he was already doing that… “With all due respect to his majesty, I don’t think his story was… enough. The people want details. They want a mystery and they want to see it solved.”

Already Petra could see that she liked where this was going.

He continued, his voice lifting enthusiastically. “I want to give the world a story they’ll never forget. Mystery, action, magic-!”

As he carried on, Petra’s ears picked up on something else in the castle. A different sound she couldn’t quite make out. A faint, distant droning.

“If what I heard is true, your story of what happened three days ago could be just what I need.”

Petra raised a hand, trying to quietly shush the boy as his bright voice completely overpowered her hearing. That sound was still going. Shifting and changing in pitch somewhere within the castle. But what it was exactly she couldn’t tell with Micha talking over it.

“If I get your first hand account of your experiences then I could finally prove myself and move up in the world.” He blinked, watching the princess waving her hands to try and quiet him. “.... What are you doing?”

“Stop talking.” She whispered, eyes darting around the corridor, trying to discern what she was hearing and where it was coming from.

The droning continued in an unbroken rhythm from somewhere else in the castle but here. It was an unfamiliar tone to someone who had spent every day within these castle walls. Petra had spent her entire life getting used to every voice, every creak and every groan these old walls held. But this was entirely new. It was also markedly nothing like the pounding of the construction. And with the castle locked down, it was very unlikely that they had a visitor.

Not a welcome one anyway.

One look at Micha’s face and Petra could see that he also heard it and was equally disturbed. Despite the fact that they’d never met, it was clear that the boy had been around long enough to know when something didn’t belong. As the princess took a few steps back down the hall the way she’d come, a chill rocked Petra to her bones. The humming was coming from…

Upstairs… The Nursery!

Petra gasped, her eyes snapping over to where Micha stood. “Come with me. Now!”

This apprentice archiver was not exactly the ideal backup Petra would have wanted when running into a potential danger. But she was unarmed and he was taller than her. He might at least tilt the odds in her favor if something truly bad was happening upstairs.

Without pausing to explain or wait for him, Petra took off in a full sprint toward the stairs. She stumbled in her loosened boots but didn’t let that stop her.

She never should have left her sister alone. She’d told her mother that she’d be there taking care of her. If something happened to her because she wandered off, it would be all her fault! Maybe Lucian was right. Maybe she was being reckless.

Slipping and sliding on smooth stone floors Petra, with Micha quick on her heels and stuffing his belongings back in his satchel, came upon the nursery door she’d foolishly left open. It was now a bit more ajar than she’d left. Confirming that someone had indeed come to this room since she left. She gave a glance back at Micha and signalled for him to follow her lead as she approached. And now that they were coming up on the room the sound they had both heard was clear as day.

It was a voice. Deep, smooth and melodic. A man’s voice by the sound of it. It held a calm but eerie energy with every moment it continued. It was very different from the booming, bone rattling roars of the monster that Petra had fought. This had to be someone else. Whoever this voice belonged to, they seemed to be… Humming. There was no mistaking it, though. It was not a voice Petra knew. And if she didn’t know them, they had no business with her baby sister.

Casting out any doubts and any fears she might have, Petra threw open the door and entered the nursery, ready to confront this mystery man. When she entered, she saw the canopy curtains around the bassinet drawn closed, though the light from the window shined through them. It was warmer than it had been when she was last in the room. But a cold stab of horror still ran through Petra as she took in the dark silhouette of a figure sitting within the pink curtains. Taller than anyone Petra had known but unmistakably shaped like a person. A person sitting in the nursery of a three day old child, notably cradling something to their chest in the shadows.

With Micha hovering in the doorway, Petra advanced. In a few quick strides she crossed the room and reached for the curtains to pull them open. When she ripped the curtains back, there was nothing that could prepare her for what she saw within.

Petra might have expected someone foolish enough to invade a castle and attack a child to be dressed like some sort of bandit or thug. But this person- or whatever they were, was dressed too well to be either. He wore a fine black and cream colored suit jacket with gold trimmings and embroidery around the lapels, cuffs and closed waist. His crossed legs were covered in what the princess could only assume were tall riding boots for they were all black and came up well beyond his knees. Making his legs appear even longer than they already seemed to be. But his clothes weren’t his strangest feature.

He was… Tall. Nearly at eye level with Petra even while seated. And he was grey. Blue-grey like lead or steel and with nearly the same metallic sheen where the light struck him just right. His eyes, kept lowered even as Petra barged in on whatever mischief he might have been up to, were sunken and dark. If there were sclera in his eyes, there was no shine or whiteness in them. Only pools of darkness around two gold irises dotted with blue pupils. He almost looked like a statue sitting in Meliora’s chair. If not for the fact that when Petra looked to his grey hands, she saw him gently holding the baby princess’ tiny hand. While his other arm held the fragile baby close to his body and very out of Petra’s reach. It was worth noting that the infant was, as of yet, unharmed.

And then… there was his hair. Shimmering golden waves- literally- pouring from his scalp. Looking far more like molten metal than strands of hair, it seemed to flow away from his head and stop of its own accord around his shoulders. Petra now wondered if the added warmth in the room was coming from him.

This person- This creature was unlike anyone or anything Petra had seen before. He certainly wasn’t the same as that smoke creature. But she had no reason to believe he wasn’t just as malicious.

“Ah.. Hello, Princess.”

That deep voice cut through the silence, knocking Petra from her confused, stunned stupor. She’d been staring and trying to process what she was seeing for so many seconds that she was startled. She tightened her jaw and fixed the mysterious figure with a hard glare as she watched those hollow eyes slowly raise and settle on her. The sight brought abrupt and frightening memories of her dream before she’d awoken on the beach and left her with a powerful and looming sense of dread. The figure didn’t stand up. Didn’t make a move toward her. He only pulled back his thin lips into an unsettlingly calm smile.

“You and I have business to discuss...”

#the GIlder's Bane #petra #lucien #meliora #samuel #king lucien #king samuel #princess Petra #webcomic #web comic #artists on tumblr #writers on tumblr #pages #Micha #Auran #this is a longer one folks #buckle up we cover a lot of ground in this one

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thorinthehottotty · 5 years ago

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May 1st - Lyn's Writing event - Thorin

Prompt - Beaches

Summary: Despite it being a political marriage, you have fallen for your husband but haven't told him.

Warnings: implied smut, angst

Ithellin was beautiful but hot. Too hot for thick dwarven style dresses. The wool and fur trapping the heat and making it worse. By the gods, you didn't have the heat tolerance of your new people.

When the king of Gondor sent a gift to the new visiting queen of Erebor, you were grateful. The silken fabric was light and flowing and allowed for air to cool your heated skin. Your husband, did not like this. His temper occasionally flaring in the worst of moments. His roaring voice challenged you to speak up. You were so angry at his sudden, and very unnecissary, outburst you couldn't think straight. Instead of screaming back at your king, you pinched your lips together and left. Slipping away from the guards, you made for the beach.

There was a storm in the distance.

The distant thunder and flashing of lightning soothed you with it's sympathy. To know you weren't the only thing feeling electric and angry as the waves rolled in to slap the shore.

You would be back but you desperately needed a moment to think. Alone time only came when Thorin was in the bath.

When you married your husband it was not the romance one might believe. You respect Thorin, you loved him in most ways. Diplomatic marriages were not common among dwarves. They all believed they had a one and secretly it broke your heart. The first year of your marriage was approaching and you had fallen in love with your husband. It hurt to know he didn't love you in the same manner.

He had two heirs already. So he had no need to touch you. The most he would do is give you a proud smile and pat your shoulder.

He married you to get a leg up in negotiations. Men were proud and stupid and trusted their own kind. So if he married you, men would trust him more. You were talented with wit and tongue. You always appealed to your kind with ease. Those you spoke with melted into your soft tone and gentle words happily.

The water was colder than you expect as you stand on the beach, hugging yourself. The air salty, the wet sand soft beneith your feet. When was the last time your stood on a beach and felt the water lap at your ankles. A hot wind blew in off the sea, making your heated skin sticky with sweat.

The tears of frustration roll down your cheeks in time with the crashing of the waves. For a moment, you wanted to wade into the sea and stay there for eternity, comforted by it's dark caress as it dragged you out. Instead, you just took in the mirroring turmoil it brought you and found relief in the music of its anger.

The royal guard found you quickly and Dwalin was the one to approach you as you glared to the approaching storm. "Lass, we've been worried sick about you," he coaxes softly upon seeing your enraged tears on your face. You don't meet his gaze. "It's not safe for you to be out here without a weapon and by yourself."

"I need a moment, Dwalin," you reply with a hard voice. The quietness of it nearly being lost to the strong winds.

"Thorin has asked we bring you back." Your face crumbles into a scowl as you look to your friend. He's holding the shoes you kicked off on the rocks a ways back. Near where the rest of the guards were.

"I will return in a while. You can tell him I said that." And you turned back to the ocean. Dwalin gave a frustrated groan.

"Lass, I-"

"I CAN'T FUCKING BREATHE! JUST GIVE ME A FUCKING MINUTE TO CLEAR MY DAMN HEAD! PLEASE!" You scream, turning back to the water and wading in until it reaches your knees. Guilt ate at you almost immediately.

"Aye, my queen." And he retreated. You had never raised your voice to him so he understood you were distressed.

The storm seems to stay distant from you as you carefully sort through your emotions and pain, trying to file each grievance away and relieving yourself with your tears. The fire of rage had long since burned away from your belly and left you with the gaping loneliness that filled you.

Why did you ever decide to marry the king?

It wasn't often you took a moment like this to pity yourself. You did not wallow. You gave your people everything. Your king everything.

Dís was the one to offer the idea to you both. You cursed her, the only one to whom you had admitted any feelings in regards to you husband. His sister smiled knowingly at you as you explained your frustrations to her.

You couldn't help the swell of anger when his voice was recieved by your ears. "The storm will be upon us shortly. Get inside." Defiantly, you twist toward him to glower.

He is taken aback by your puffy, red eyes, but only for a moment. He glowers back, stepping up and closer, a challenging step. "I don't want to fight with you!" You snap.

"Then listen to me!" He bellows back. He gapes when you sink into the water. "I am not above throwing you over my shoulder and dragging you back kicking and screaming! To hell with making trade with Gondor!"

You continue to pout in the cold water, ignoring the shock it gave your body. "What is the matter! Why are you so angry about the damn dress?" You snarl. "Why are you always on the attack with me?" He's shocked when he hears your voice begin to break. His entire face flutters in horror as your lip trembles and tears roll again.

"You are Queen of Erebor. Not Queen of Gondor."

"It is rude to turn away gifts, my king." Thorin flinched away at that. You only called him that when people were around. A formality.

"Get out of the water." His voice is cold.

"I will leave when I am ready to." You rasp.

"Get out of the water." He repeats with a snarl. "Get into the castle. Go to our chambers. And get out of that damned dress."

"I like the dress."

"I did not ask if you liked it or not, do as your king demands." Your lips twitch, defiance rising. You were not acting like a queen. He knows it. In a flash, your dragged from the water and you gasp as your brought up to his chest.

"It's too hot here to wear wool and leather. I don't have the heat tolerance you do!" Thorin doesn't relent, carrying you back to the sandy beaches. "Put me down! You've no right!" He drops you rather unceremoniously into the sand and you glower at him.

"I have the only right. You are my wife. My queen. Is that not what you promised? Does that mean nothing to you!?"

"It means everything to me!" Your answer stops him cold, and then much quiter, you add. "You mean everything to me. You're my king. My friend. My husband, and you don't have to love me like one but I do." His face etches in confusion as he kneels into the sand beside your nearly sobbing form. You swipe a hand at your cheeks, probably looking every bit a mess as you feel. Thunder cracks closer and he looks back at the approaching storm.

"What do you mean by that?" He asks.

"It's political for you. I know that, but that doesn't mean I don't think of you as my husband. I love you."

He moves a hand for a moment to push the windswept hair out of your face and behind your ear. "This dress makes me yearn for you as a husband does for his wife," Thorin explains softly making you gaze at him in disbelief. "I promised you long ago I would not touch you inappropriately. I understand touch is a basic necessity and I did also promise you to give you everything you could desire." You blink up at him, unsure of what to do with this information. "I apologize for my reaction to it," he admits to you. Watching you with the kindest eyes. "I should never have spoken to you in that way."

"I'm sorry for my words as well." You whisper back. He watches you for a long moment and it spurs on more blathering with the difficulty of the words you have to say. Your eyes falling into your lap. Somehow it was harder to look at his gentle stare than his glare. "You are my one true king. You have my sword, my bow, and now my heart. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable with the dress. When we arrive back, I will change into my other clothes and I won't wear it for the rest of our stay. I just can't-"

His hand brushing over your cheek has you pausing and glancing up to see just how delicately he was looking at you. He's so close, eyes sapping every bit of anger from your being and leaving you a trembling mess of nerves. His nose brushes past yours, almost intentionally it would seem as he tilts to press the most tender kiss to your lips, stealing all thought from your wandering mind and leaving you only with the coaxing of his lips. That kiss parted your lips for a spilt second and the smallest of gasps left you. Thorin leaned back in, pressing his lips to yours more deeply this time, but only just. It still held the delicacy of his sweetness.

By the fourth kiss his other hand raised to cup your face and you both were leaning into it, soaking it up like it would be the last time either of you would ever kiss instead of the first. He kissed you like he feared you would flee, as if not to scare you. You didn't know how badly you needed it as your lips softly smacked together. They tingled from the brush of his beard.

The clearing of a throat has you both parting slowly. Thorin peeks beyond you to where Dwalin stood. "We should be heading back. The storms about to hit. It'll be a nasty one."

Thorin gives him a nod and stands, dragging you with him. "Will you come inside now?" He asks you.

"Yes," you respond. It gives him a sigh of relief and your shoes are lifted for you. It's good timing the lot of you have as the rain begins just when you've entered the castle. Thorin takes you immediately to your chambers to change, water and sand trailing behind you as you make your way.

The shutters to the balcony have already been closed and are rattling from the wind. The chambers have become extra stuffy.

You slide the your shoulders out of the fabric and let it fall from your frame along with your soaked slip. A hand reaches from behind to stop you when you reach for the dry one drapped over the bed. Someone had prepared similar graments and your other ones in case you decided against it. You freeze because normally your husband would turn away and give you your privacy but you could feel him behind you.

"No," he hums quietly, pushing his warm body up against the back of yours. It has your heart racing in your chest and you feel more vulnerable now than on the beach below your window. His mouth decends on your shoulder and you shiver under it, melting back into him. He kissed up your slowly as his hands stopped reaching for the bed and instead, you.

They came around, wrapping about your naked form. One pressed over your navel, the other palm stetches between your breasts, right over your racing heart.

"I'm going to make love to you, yâsith," he murmurs as he presses a kiss to the shell of your ear. "I'm going to keep you in these sheets until the early morning light."

"Anything you desire," you promise the king. "Anything."

Yâsith - Wife

@tomisbaeholland

#thorin #day 1 #beaches #sand #i think I made something a bit angsty...#Lyn's Writing Event

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tcoyd · 4 years ago

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I want to tell you a little about the undertale project. The game is already dying out, but somehow I should make my own contribution, for the first time in my 4 years in this game.

And its name: Rock and Roll Sympfony. (there may be mistakes, my English is still bad)

Description of AU

Rock and Roll Symphony is an alternative world of undertale, in which time is ahead of ours, but people's mores are sliding into an even greater abyss. People have found a way to enslave their own people through what everyone likes and listens to at the time of the events of the world. Music became a way of enslavement. The only music allowed to be listened to was the classic, in which low-frequency soundtracks are inserted that change the perception of people. Subsequently, people decide to get rid of the monsters that vehemently "propagated" everything that was not pleasing to people. War is unfolding and monsters are imprisoned in dungeons.

Frisk escapes from the horror of the human world by complete accident and his own inattention, but the world under the ground intrigues and pleases her much more than the world of people: harmony and freedom reign here, from which Frisk first demolishes the "tower". Frisk, after recovering from injuries sustained during the fall, begins to explore the dungeon, telling the monster the unpleasant truth about people and about the genres of music that she owns. The monsters tell her about what she did not know. I don't want to go back, I want to stay in the dungeons.

But one turning point makes Frisk think about going back. It comes when the Boatman is taking Frisk to Snowland ...

"Half of the way the boatman was silent, the road was long, slow and boring. There was almost no current. Frisk thought about what was happening on the surface, the thoughts of her mother and her friends left to their own devices did not give her rest until now Jos-Lowe takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.

—Want to come back? - the Boatman begins the dialogue, as if reading the thoughts of young Frisk.

- Huh? Oh ... I don't know ... I miss my family, friends ... They were left alone.

- And ... What prevents you from returning? When you reach the New House, the King will find a guide on how to open the barrier. And business, nothing at all.

- Yes, just a little ... - Frisk laughs, having already forgotten what a smile is for 18 years in hell. But the smile immediately disappears, she remembers what she had to go through. - It's not even that. I don't want to go back to hell. My society ... Far from being an example of beauty.

- You know, when we were still on the surface, I heard the following phrase from you: “We create our own destiny”. So why don't you follow it? I do not know what exactly is going on there, but I can say for sure - you are not alone in your ideas. And if you start, others will be drawn to you. There may not be many of you, but if you do not back down, if you are full of determination in your hearts, you will definitely manage. And if there are many of you, even more so. You yourself can change your fate, and maybe even the fate of the world and the country .... The main thing is to start.

Frisk doesn't answer, thinking. The boatman stops at the shore. The girl comes out and, having paid, drags into the Ruins. She really wondered what she could do in order to change her own fate and the fate of other people, the fate of her family. "

This seemingly strange and short conversation fills her heart with hope and her soul with determination. She finally decides to act in full force.

Detailed plot and scenario of the world in development

Characters

Protaganist Name: Frisk Jos-Lowe

Race: Human

Location after the fall: Ruins

Soul: Weak Determination *

the soul of weakened determination tends to both fade and flare up. If the owner of the soul loses hope and faith, the soul goes out, acquiring a dirty reddish color, almost not shining. If the owner of the soul, on the contrary, is full of hope, faith, spiritual strength, the soul flares up with blood-wine, pulsating and shining brightly. The soul is not resistant to fusion, the fusion of the souls themselves are fragile, perish and fall apart quickly enough.

Appearance:

(detailed reference in development)

Other main characters

! not all characters have received their appearance yet, some are at the stage of early concepts and are superficial, some do not have an appearance at the moment, the article will be supplemented and updated!

Name: Asriel Dreammoor

Race: monster

Place of residence: Ruins

Soul: white, with a red light inside, inverted. *

* Each monster has a light inside, referring it to a certain type of human soul. Inside Asriel's soul is a red light, determination.

The soul of a monster cannot be completely filled with the power of a human soul, the soul melts under the influence of force, after which it dies

Appearance:

Name: Toriel Dreammoor

Race: monster

Place of residence: Ruins, New House

Soul: white, with a blue light inside (soul of decency / honesty), inverted

Appearance:

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Asgore Dreammoor

Race: monster

Place of residence: Ruins, New House

Soul: white, with an orange light inside (courage), inverted

Appearance: A goat-like monster, 215 centimeters tall, an average physique man without prominent features of the figure. The coat is white, interspersed with orange on the face, near the eyes, cheeks and horns, on the body there are spots on the forearm, shoulder, torso, under the ribs. Fiery red hair, short haircut, small beard. Long, curled back horns. Emerald eyes. The king most often wears two types of clothing: an official classic black suit with black shoes and an orange shirt, a tie with a magnolia image. A raincoat of neutral gray with a bright scarlet image of a magnolia on it.

His second suit looks like soft brown pants and a soft lilac sweatshirt.

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Flowey / Bath

Race:??? (presumably a monster, refers to the type of plant Ipomoea Batat, it is not possible to say for sure if Flowey refers to a monster)

Residence: The root of the flower garden is in the Ruins. It can move around the entire dungeon except for Snowfall, does not withstand low temperatures. "Eyes and ears" in all areas available to him

Soul- -

Appearance:

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Chara Dreammoor (before the fall of Hirsch)

Race: Human

Location after the fall: Ruins

Burial site: Ruins

Soul: Rotten Determination *

* the soul, at first glance, is no different from the usual, canonical determination, except for the huge black spot of obsession, shining from within. Any soul, both human and monster, can rot.

Appearance: not designed, only mentioned in photographs in the Drimmoor family album

Name: Sans (Jonathan)

Race: monster

Place of residence: Snezhnegrad

Soul: white, with a blue light inside (decency / honesty) and small inclusions of rot. Jonathan's rot is laziness and frivolity.

Appearance: A low, skeletal monster, about 160 centimeters tall, in a formal black suit with vertical white stripes, a white shirt with a raised blue collar and a relaxed black tie. A black trilby hat appears on his head in time. The inside of the eye sockets is painted in blue magic. It seems to many that he "tints the lower" eyelid "" because of the appearance of the eye sockets. No pupil

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Papyrus (Ryan)

Race: monster

Place of residence: Snezhnegrad

Soul: white, with a blue glow inside and small blotches of rot. Ryan Rot - Vanity

Appearance: a tall skeletal monster, about 190 centimeters in height, in silver armor, dirty and worn in some places. The skeleton does not deny itself and still wears a red long scarf, frayed at the ends. On the "face" of the skeleton, a "smile" is frozen, which makes his skull seem extremely welcoming. There is a crack on the back of the skull from a blow to the head. White pupils shine in the eye sockets.

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Undyne

Race: monster

Place of residence: Waterfalls

Soul: white, with an orange light inside (courage)

Appearance: (detailed appearance in development) amphibious monster about 175 centimeters tall, athletic build. Both eyes see. There are scars on his face, and Undyne can open his mouth much more than meets the eye. Nice girl face. The nose is present, as are the gills. Hair is collected in a cockle. On the hands, from the hand to the elbow, there are fins, on the fingers there are membranes and rather long claws. Scars and pieces of small scales have been torn off along the body in many areas. She is dressed in a loose hoodie and jeans, buttresses on her legs.

Belongs to the class of the ancients, has quite a lot of power

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Muffet (Rosie)

Race: monster

Place of residence: Hotland

Soul: white, with a yellow light inside (courage). There is rottenness

Appearance: monster spider, about 155 centimeters tall, three arms, one pair of legs

Long, waist-length, soft pink hair, two pairs of sky-blue eyes. A predatory smile with large fangs, the "skin" is pale pink, a pair of sharp horns protrude from the head. She is wearing a long scarlet haori, underneath a T-shirt and white shorts. The fingers on the hands are abnormally long, with a large number of rings. On the back there is a birthmark in the form of a cross. Wears nothing on his feet

(detailed reference in development)

Name: Mettaton

Race: monster

Place of residence: Hotland, Labaratoria

Soul: white, with a faint blue light (patience)

Appearance: not designed

Name: Alphys

Race: monster

Place of residence: Loboratorium, Waterfalls

Soul: white, with a green light inside (kindness)

Appearance: a small lizard-like monster with a height of 163 centimeters. It is a white-colored leopard of Diablo Blanco with red eyes. Alphys has a mutation, due to which soft needle-like outgrowths go from her head to the coccyx, along the spine, from large to small. She has a rather neat and "juicy" figure, hidden under a voluminous black dress and lab coat.

(detailed reference in development)

World locations

Locations are still divided into:

Ruin

Snowland

Waterfall (Waterfalls)

Hotland

Laboratory

New house

Added to them:

New Los Angeles (part of the human world)

Summit Abbott

Lost city (part of the dungeon)

Ruin

The structure of the corridors is almost the same, the traps are removed as unnecessary, one room has been added. The walls resemble brick in color. The room where you can buy Muffet donuts in the game canon now houses a small Muffet art gallery, there is also a table with muffins and tea.

(The spiders offer to buy paintings for a fairly large sum, but when you buy you will be offered muffins and given the painting. When she meets Muffet, she will thank you for your purchase and invite you for tea.) The walls are in ruins in cracks, through which Flowey vines sprout. The ceiling is covered with vines, and there are many fallen leaves on the ground. The paths are paved with stone that has aged over time. The conservation room is in a much better condition, instead of signs with inscriptions, stained glass windows with the symbol of the royal family (Magnolia). In the middle of the hall there is a huge tree up to the ceiling, large branches of which have grown all over the ceiling, and thin branches, like those of a birch, hang down. The leaves are scarlet. At the edges of the room there are bunches of Flowey vines that bloom profusely. There is still a save star between the steps to the exit. Instead of a pile of leaves, there is a small music bench. On the two side walls there are three columns, on which notes are written in a spiral. There is a small vine wall next to Toriel's house. If you move the vine aside, you can see a secret room, dotted with a field of bright blue flowers. There is a tombstone at the wall opposite the entrance. It reads "Chara Dreammoor. Beautiful daughter and best sister. 2040-2067"

The Ruins is home to many small monsters. Froggits and many others, they do not change their appearance. In the Ruins, Frisk still meets with Nabstablook. This is a small ghost of a slightly blue hue, with pink eyes. He reacts to Frisk in a very frightened way. After a little dialogue about who he is, the ghost dissolves with a bell ringing.

Snowland

The difference in appearance is created only by the large number of frozen trees and large flowers, sometimes even higher than the houses. The main square is hung with Chinese lanterns attached to houses and fir trees in the main square. The square is the brightest street in Snowland . On the outskirts of the city there is a bright casino "Golden lake", next to it is a hotel with the same name. Grilby owns both his Grilby Bar and the Golden Lake Hotel and Casino.

Minor Characters:

Grilby's appearance:

The appearance of his daughter, Fuku Fire:

Fuku and Grilby are ancient monsters and are quite powerful. Fuku helps his father at the casino.

Waterfall

There are many tall shrubs and Echo Flowers in the Falls. The corridors are not very different. There are many crystals on the "ceiling", creating the appearance of the stars. There are many reservoirs with water lilies and waterfalls. There is a pier near the mill where you can meet the Boatman or the Monster. Undyne's house is two-story, with a circular roof. There is a small field of echo colors next to it.

Minor characters:

Boatman:

a tall monster in a long black robe with a hood. He has abnormally long arms and a stooped back. His face has never been seen, it is hidden behind a mask of an animal's skull. Branched horns stick out from the head, and the pupils, glowing white from under the eye sockets, always look inquisitively. Many monsters call him the Wendigo, a man-eater who hunts for human sins. Who knows, maybe he is ...

Monster Kid:

a small lizard-like monster with yellow-red scales, wearing a large brown sweater.

Hotland

Not fundamentally altered. There are a lot of Flowey vines on the platforms, in some places, the most dangerous, she created dense railings and handrails. Hotland is almost empty. High temperatures do their trick and it is very difficult to be there.

Laboratory

The laboratory is in much better condition. The laboratory is bright, clean, fully equipped with everything Alphys needs for experiments. Amalgamates look like Siamese monsters. Bodies have a denser structure, when asked about their state of mergers, they vaguely answer about good health and they have all the conditions for a comfortable existence.

New House

The corridors have not been modified. The windows of the houses glow, the panoramic view of the castle seems to be brighter.

Many small monsters live in the New House.

Summit Abbot

Overgrown with plants and grass, rather dark, filled with a large number of stones, it offers a view of the now far from sunny Los Angeles, in which it rains almost all the time.

New Los-Angeles

Frisk's house and the location that the monsters will enter after liberation. Los Angeles is divided into two parts: New and Old. Old Los Angeles resembles the architecture of the 20th of the 21st century, it is considered a poor area. New Los Angeles is a high-tech neighborhood with skyscrapers and flying cars. A huge number of people live in it, who are far from all happy with the release of monsters.

Lost city

The story is told on behalf of the shocked Frisk, who accidentally found this place.

"When Asriel and I got there, the first thing we saw was a large number of cages. It seemed to me cages at first glance, only several hundred times larger than a normal bird cage and made of stone. Some were suspended from above, others from below ... Many more stairs! They connected almost every building!

There is almost no land, all these cells. And, if there is land somewhere, it seems to be suspended on huge chains from the nearest walls. And, which seemed strange to me, it was light there, although I did not see a single source of illumination, it was very windy there ... But, perhaps, we made this wind by opening the passage. Oh, there were still ribbons! Or not ribbons ... As if scraps of something, there were a lot of them ... There ... There was also something like a mosaic with a legend signed under it ... I didn't make out much ... It was looks like Latin ... But ... With some other dialect ... If not for my panic that neither I nor Asriel know this place, I would have been able to try to make out and translate at least something through associations ... "

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kathyprior4200 · 5 years ago

Text

Frosta Fanfiction Seasons 1-5

Season 1

A young girl, eight years old, stood at attention as the crowd watched. She had short dark blue hair and wore a dark blue dress with white fur covering her shoulders and her wrists. The front of her dress was decorated with seven short icicles carved into diamond shapes. Her round dark eyes met a dozen other eyes in front of her.

“Today,” announced Frigid, a blonde general of the guards, “is a day of both celebration, and mourning. His Majesty King Freeze led several of our strongest men into battle against the Horde on the edge of the Kingdom of Snows. Their leader, Hordak had attempted to invade our kingdom and steal our wealth and resources. King Freeze held Hordark off…but gravely, didn’t make it.”

The crowd muttered in low voices and several younger individuals gasped.

A tear threatened to fall from Frosta’s eyes, but she held it in. She couldn’t afford to be seen as a weak child during her coronation.

As an only child, Frosta had always known that she would become a ruler someday. Both her parents had taught her etiquette and rules early on. After observing weekly meetings with the king and the council, she could recite the anthem and the names of the other kingdoms with her eyes closed.

Despite all the formalities, Frosta still had time to closely bond with her parents in the late evening. She remembered the warm smile behind her father’s dark beard as he watched her practice her ice magic in her bedroom. When she had accidently froze a butler against the wall who had arrived to her room, her father showed her how to melt the ice surrounding him.

“Frosty, you must always be careful,” explained her father. Frosta rolled her eyes at her silly nickname, but smiled all the same.

Frosta remembered the subtle reassurances from Queen Iceis, her mother.

“Follow me,” she had said to her daughter. The two royals entered a hidden passage that led to a dark cave. They both stopped at a ledge.

A young Frosta pointed at something glowing from above. “What’s that?”

“The Fractal Flake,” the queen explained, the light briefly illuminating her long black hair. A large snowflake-shaped crystal hummed with power and stayed in place. She could feel the pulse from the gem similar to how she felt her heart beat.

“This gem has powered our kingdom for hundreds of years,” said the queen. “Its power has been used by kings and queens of the past to protect our land, as well as replenish their power. There will come a time, when it will be your turn to assume the throne. When you do, the crystal’s power will be transferred over to you, amplifying your power.”

Frosta’s eyes filled with both wonder and concern. “I know I’ll be able to do it…but what if I cannot?”

“You will,” said her mother. “There is a reason why we have taught you how to stand your ground so early. It is to best prepare you in case the inevitable comes.”

Frosta tried to pronounce “inevitable” and asked what she meant.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” said the queen. “Now, let’s be off to dinner. The food-tasters should tell us reports on the food when we arrive.” Frosta wrapped her arms around her mother in a hug. Shortly after, she returned the embrace.

Frosta didn’t know how fast time could fly by, until now. How could her mother’s clear ice blue eyes sparkle with happiness at her, only for them to roll back into her head, days later. Iceis’ pale white skin became sheer white as her body struggled to fight off a mysterious poison that had entered her veins. Medics and healers rushed into the queen’s chambers, doing all they could to heal her. All the meanwhile, Frosta looked on in fear from the distance, feeling ever so small and vulnerable.

“Definitely poison, alright,” stated a food taster, lifting his nose up to the silver wine chalice the queen had drunk out of. “The Horde must have slipped some in when they arrived with barrels of wine and fish for us.”

“We gave away our weapons to them for nothing,” spat a guard. “But surely, they would want us on their side. It must have been a mistake.”

But the queen’s pained gasps and coughs suggested otherwise. No longer able to stay in one place, Frosta rushed over to her sick mother. Her mother’s hand was ice cold, yet the young princess did not let go.

“My time is almost done, Frosta…” she stuttered. “Remember all the things I have taught you…”

“Mother, please…I’m not ready…”

“You are ready…you must be ready,” said her mother. “Make sure that all your subjects are well cared for. Enforce the rules when necessary. Be strong as a glacier, sharp as ice…but remember to be soft as snow at times.”

“I…I will make you proud, mother,” mumbled Frosta, her eyes turning red.

Iceis squeezed her hand tighter. “Oh, Frosty…you already have…”

Her head turned to the side and her hand went slack in Frosta’s.

“No! No! Mother!” cried Frosta. One of the guards tried to pull her to the side, but she screamed and sobbed loudly. It was the only time when she did not care when she acted like a child. It was even harder to get back into her responsibilities the next day. That was the day when the calls of war were heard.

It was the last time she would ever see her father’s face.

Frosta’s thoughts were interrupted when she felt something hard being put on her head. It was a small ice crown.

Who would have imagined Frosta being crowned on her birthday…and her feeling like the world was already weighing down on her.

Another man with brown hair stood by her side and spoke. “By the power vested in me, I hereby crown you, Frosta, Princess of Snows.”

The crowd clapped politely, while a few other people looked at her with pity and disbelief in their eyes. Frosta stared at them icily, daring them to challenge her.

‘Don’t underestimate me because of my age,’ she thought. ‘You have no idea what I can accomplish.’

“Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!” called several teenagers as Frosta climbed down the stairs and walked toward the snack bar. For the rest of the day, she was bombarded with gifts from other kingdoms and endless requests of joining the Rebellion.

“Bright Moon needs you, Your Majesty,” said a messenger of Queen Angella who had been sent to her kingdom. He wore armor and the white garb of Bright Moon. A small insignia, a crescent moon, was pinned to his chest over his heart. “The Horde have almost destroyed the Whispering Woods and the Meadowlands. They could be up to something else!”

Frosta ignored him and popped a frost covered fish egg into her mouth. “Not interested. Being involved with the rest of Etheria has only caused problems for our kingdom. It would be beneficial if the Rebellion and the Horde could solve their problems like real adults. I suggest you do the same.”

The messenger looked aghast. “But the princesses…”

“Nope.”

Frosta walked away, leaving a bewildered messenger behind.

A strong burly man walked over to her later on while she was chewing a ball of dark chocolate candy. “The Horde and I have the best technology in the land. With our people and your kingdom ruling together, all of Etheria could be ours!”

“Not today,” Frosta replied with a wave of her hand. “Have a nice evening.”

Desperate to get away from the crowds and noise, Frosta headed back toward the council room.

“Scribe Chiller,” she ordered. The black haired writer looked up from her seat. “Yes, Your Majesty?” she asked.

“I want you to create a new law for this kingdom. Call it the Neutrality Treaty. We will not be involved with the Horde nor the Princess Alliance anymore.”

“Yes, Princess,” she nodded, not daring to question Frosta’s orders.

For months afterward, Frosta felt safer and more secure in her icy palace. The rules and regulations that had formerly confused her, now served as a good way for her to escape her troubling thoughts.

Soon enough, the hidden pain of the loss of her parents and the ever increasing stress of her job made her perfectionistic.

The rules had to be followed by the book: no cracks were to be evident in the ice walls and floor. All the beds had to be carefully made and smooth. The food had to be meticulously decorated and prepared. And for Snows sake, nothing on the plate could be touching each other!

Some people may have been put off by Frosta’s perfectionism and her antisocial ways. The more traditional nobles and several jokesters called her derogatory things like “youngster,” “ADHD Autistic Anarchist” and “Lost Frost.” But she didn’t care much anymore. How could she? Sharp comments weren’t going to penetrate her stone cold stance. There was no point in pretending like everything was fine and dandy when she still felt that hollow loneliness each and every day like a gaping hole.

Frosta lived by the rules and her role, day by day, only letting her emotions flow freely in her bedroom when she cried herself to sleep. In the back of her mind, she hoped to have her father and mother appear by her side once more. She imagined them saying that there hadn’t been a war. That they had made peace with the Horde and that they would live safely in Snows for the rest of their lives. Certainly, she could enjoy herself and become queen at 16, the traditional age where she would be shown proper respect.

But just as quickly as they came, her hopeful thoughts faded away in a cold blast.

It wasn’t long before Frosta was almost twelve years old. Her kingdom had kept to itself for a long time. They had more than enough resources to keep busy and stable.

The day came when Princess Frosta put together a rule list for the Princess Prom event. The sooner she got this event over with, the better. Already, the scribe was working on dozens of other copies to send out across the land.

“All Princess Ball: Winter Wonderland.” Was written in elaborate script at the top of the scroll. The rules were listed below.

“Rules:

No weapons allowed in the palace. Castle guards are the only ones permitted to carry weapons.

No use of magic powers for harm or fist fighting. Any form of violence will not be permitted.

For the chefs: All food must be prepared properly (fish and meat frozen with the right amount of ice power).

All guests must wear formal attire: (dresses, suits, ties, etc.)

Any princess may bring a plus one individual with them to the event

Princess Frosta is eleven and ¾ years old. No one is allowed to mock her or make any comment on her age or experience.

The day of the prom arrived. A guard stood by a table, confiscating weapons from the guests. Adora was very reluctant to let go of her sword. Snow and icicles wrapped around the columns in the hallway. On and above the double doors were stain glass snowflake designs. The ballroom was shining with rows of icicles arranged in rows. People from all walks of life were dancing under colored strobe lights and pop music. A chandelier of long icicles hung from the high ceiling. A small band of beautiful women were playing string instruments on top of some stairs in a corner. An array of fruits and exotic food were positioned on ice covered shelves, made to be preserved throughout the night. There were small sandwiches, wrapped hotdogs, cookies, and cupcakes with wintery designs and colors. A large jelly-like sculpture was positioned at the edge of one table.

A line of guests walked up the steps to Frosta, who was sitting on her blue and white throne. The people bowed and greeted her, and they were then escorted back down the stairs by guards. Frosta didn’t particularly enjoy the moment; for her it was just another chore, albeit a necessary part of the ancient traditions. It was then that Adora and princess Glimmer arrived to the front. Adora bowed and Glimmer curtsied.

“That’s Frosta?” Adora whispered to Glimmer. “But she’s like…ten!”

A collective gasp came from the crowd as they heard Frosta’s age mentioned out loud by Adora.

“I’m eleven and three quarters,” said Frosta coldly. If she could, Frosta would have told her to shut the hell up.

“Revered hostess,” said Glimmer. “We come under the ancient rules of hospitality, bringing greetings from Bright Moon.”

“And She-Ra” added Adora.

“You are welcome under the rules of hospitality,” Frosta stated. “Leave conflict at the door. Enjoy the ball.”

Glimmer tried to remediate the situation and Adora started to say something about the Rebellion but Frosta had enough. The two princesses were moved along by Frosta’s guards down the steps.

Later on, during the party, Frosta went over by the snack bar, wanting to be left alone. She observed the light orange jelly and the fruit on the table. However, she noticed out of the corner of her eye, Adora walking over to her from her right.

Chatting with this disrespectful blonde stranger was the last thing on Frosta’s mind.

“Revered hostess,” said Adora with a bow. “I’ve come to apologize. I was so rude.”

“Yes, you were,” Frosta replied bluntly.

Then she turned back to Adora. “But you’re only an honorary princess. You can’t be expected to know better.”

Changing the subject, Adora looked around at the magnificent walls of ice and the vast architecture of the place.

“Your kingdom is beautiful. I’m honored to be here.”

“Thank you,” said Frosta, not looking at Adora.

Frosta sighed in annoyance, knowing why Adora had decided to speak with her. “And now I expect you’re gonna ask me to join your Rebellion?”

“You know about that?” asked Adora.

“Of course I do,” Frosta replied. “Princesses talk, you know.”

Just then, one of Frosta’s guards came over with a tray of food. He offered some to the princesses.

Frosta looked at the tray with disapproval. “The snow peas and the cookies are touching. Do it right.”

The guard left.

“Princess Frosta, the Rebellion needs you,” Adora pleaded. “Your kingdom is powerful. Your alliance could defeat the Horde.”

“The Horde hasn’t threatened us here,” stated Frosta. Despite several mishaps, the Horde had kept to themselves thanks to the Neutrality Treaty. Not even the Horde soldiers could get into the kingdom back when she lost her parents.

“Because the Kingdom of Snows is so out of the way,” Adora added. “Joining the Rebellion is your best bet.”

At this point, the ice princess was getting frustrated at the sight of a stranger telling her what her best choices were.

She had heard comments like that quite often in the castle, especially after the death of her parents.

“Are you sure you know what’s best for you?”

“You’re too little to run a kingdom! Do you even know what you are doing?”

“Maybe she’s too scared to associate herself with the outside world. Not doing what is best.”

The truth was, no one knew what was best for her…except herself. She certainly wasn’t going to let another person test her like that.

Frosta spoke. “The Kingdom of Snows has defended itself well for thousands of years. We do not need your help or your rebellion.”

She turned to Adora. “Please continue to enjoy the ball.” She left with her guards by her side.

Frosta was sitting back on her throne, doing her usual routine of meeting and greeting her guests. She was about to go into another state of boredom when she saw two guests that stood out from the crowd: Catra and Scorpia from the Horde. Catra was wearing a fancy maroon suit, while Scorpia was wearing an elegant black dress and red gem earrings.

“Revered hostess!” called Adora in concern.

‘Not this again,’ thought Frosta.

“They’re from the Horde!” Adora yelled, pointing at the two villains.

‘So what?’

“Hostess,” said Catra. “Princess Scorpia was invited per the rules of this ball. Rules which I personally have utmost respect for.”

“You do not!” shouted Adora to Catra.

“Princess Adora!” said Frosta sternly. “The rules state clearly that all princesses are welcome.”

“They’re up to something. I can feel it!”

“That’s enough!” Frosta reprimanded. “You look at me and see a child, but I have worked too hard to gain respect, only to throw away because you feel they’re up to something.”

It was quite clear that Adora had no evidence to back up her statement.

“The All-Princess Ball is neutral. I will not dishonor that legacy,” finished Frosta. “Scorpia is a princess. Princesses get plus ones. They. Stay.”

Adora grumbled in defeat and deviance.

After the guests left, pushing Adora and Glimmer below the stairs, Frosta grumbled, “Teenagers.”

The guests were all scattered around the ballroom now, eating food, and chatting with their friends. With no more people to greet and the time drawing near, Frosta stood up and announced, “It is my solemn duty as hostess to announce, it is time for the first dance of the ball.”

The crowd flooded toward the dance floor, laughing and pairing up in couples. Frosta watched and saw Adora and Catra dancing…and arguing at the same time. The dancing remained uninterrupted…until Adora suddenly pushed Catra into an ice structure, breaking it. The music stopped and the crowd gasped.

‘I knew Adora was trouble,’ thought Frosta.

Frosta stomped over and with a raise of her hands, entrapped Adora in a cage of ice.

Frosta glared at Adora. “The Princess Ball is a ceremony of unity. Violence is strictly forbidden.”

“You don’t understand…” started Adora.

“I understand perfectly,” spat Frosta. “In accordance with the rules set down over the centuries, I hereby revoke your invitation. You are to leave my kingdom and never, ever…”

A sudden loud explosion interrupted Frosta’s reprimand. Then a series of crystal bombs went off one after the other. Guests screamed and ran away in a panic. The food and plates crashed to the ground and crack appeared in the walls.

“Remain calm! Stop!” ordered Frosta to the crowd. Frosta knew what she had to do next. There was no time to stop the mysterious intruders. She had to keep her kingdom safe. She ran off, flanked by two of her guards.

Frista raced down the hall toward the secret passageway.

“Help get everyone out of here. If you see the intruders, freeze and restrain them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said the guards.

Frosta opened the ice covered door, which blended in well with the rest of the ice wall from a distance. Heart pounding, Frosta ran in the dark, searching for the beacon of light. Finally she found it: the Fractal Flake. She stopped, took a deep breath and raised both of her hands.

In several seconds, the falling debris that had threatened to fall on the guests froze in mid fall. Slowly, the castle started to amend itself. The roof closed back together, a light fixture flew back up into place and the large star structure outside the palace was fitting itself back together. Frosta strained herself and grunted with effort. If she was going to risk collapsing or even death protecting her kingdom, then that’s what she would do.

Once the palace was fully repaired, Frosta gasped for breath and fell to her knees on the cold ground.

How did all of this happen? Here was an event that only happened once a decade, which was supposed to be harmonious and secure. Seeing the two sides in harmony would have strengthened Frosta’s confidence of her rule.

Now, everything had fallen apart.

Frosta had lost her parents. She had lost her sense of security and safety.

And now…though she was reluctant to admit it, she had lost her trust in the Horde.

She wiped away some tears that had fallen down her face.

‘I have failed you, mother, father,’ she stuttered through her sobs. ‘I almost failed my kingdom. What am I supposed to do now?’

She clenched her fists and stood up. “I…I must go back outside. Tend to those who may be wounded. Reassure the public.” She remembered some advice from her father: “Professional in public, playful in private.”

Maybe…perhaps maybe…this Adora person was right after all.

But would joining the Rebellion really be her best bet? Even if it meant going against her centuries long tradition of neutrality? Her Neutrality Law was, in fact, nothing new. Her parents made a similar law, as did her grandparents and the ones before them. It was expected of a ruler to be partial and logical…never to fight unless the enemy invaded first.

Which of course, they had.

With one last surge of energy, Frosta stood up and raised her hands once more. This time, huge towers of ice rose up from the outside and encased the palace like a triangular shield. Now her kingdom was more isolated and insulated than ever.

She now felt safe…but never had she felt more alone.

She made her way out of the chamber and was met with one of her messengers, a young man named Frigid. “Your Majesty, no one appears to be hurt after the bombs went off. There were reports of two men in blue coats taking away Princess Adora’s comrades.”

Another messenger came over, this time a woman with dark hair, Glace.

“We think that Bow and Glimmer have been taken away by spies. They disguised themselves as our guard!”

“And the Horde must have set off the bombs. That scorpion princess was suspiciously nowhere to be seen…”

“Alright, I understand,” said Frosta holding up her hands.

She cleared her throat. “Strengthen the defenses. Search the castle for any other intruders. See to it that all weapons are observed and stored away.

“Yes Princess,” said Glace. The two messengers wandered off to their duties.

Days and weeks passed. Frosta sat in with the council, going over document after document. She wore her usual blue coat, tan pants, and blue boots. She was about to sign a Treaty from the Horde when she felt a strange uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

It wasn’t from hunger nor was it cramps. It was the everlasting feeling of fear and dread. Even her hands had begun to shake of their own accord.

“Excuse me for a moment,” she said. Frosta walked fast out of the room, leaving the council members in confusion.

When Frosta felt the Fractal Flakes power diminish, she knew that something was not right.

It felt like another, much darker power was trying to corrupt it. Although it felt far away, she knew that the force could grow increasingly closer. It was a feeling of dread that she couldn’t seem to let go of.

Her fears were further confirmed when she saw a pale blue light shine up into the dark sky. She knew what it was: a distress beacon from BrightMoon!

Perhaps it was the time for her to do something different.

Perhaps it was the time for her to take action and go outside her comfort zone.

Making her way into her office, she came across the Neutrality Treaty that she had meticulously put together…and threw it out of a nearby open window.

The wind blew away the documents and Frosta felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Her previous life of rules and solitude had blown away.

If the Rebellion truly needed her help, than that is what she would have to do.

“Princess?” asked one of two guards, who were standing outside her door. “Are you alright?”

“Go back to your positions. Don’t let anyone know I’m gone. If I don’t come back…”

“You’re leaving?” asked one of the guards.

“To help save the Rebellion. I sense that something bad is happening.”

“But the Neutrality Treaty…”

“Is henceforth disregarded!” she declared. Frosta never believed that those words would ever leave her lips.

Her guards stood in frozen shock. They wondered if Frosta had lost her mind.

Which, due to the events, she most likely had.

“If I don’t make it, tell the people that I left this world with honor,” she finished, managing to make her face emotionless.

“Princess, wait!” the guards called with concern.

But Frosta jumped out the window and shot long sheets of ice from her hands as she fell.

The ice rose from the ground and created an icy path that Frosta slid down and across. She moved gracefully as if she were wearing ice skates instead of her blue boots.

Red lightning flashed across the sky, lighting the world in a blood red glow. The sight made Frosta’s hair stand on end.

‘No time to back away now. I must do what is right for my kingdom.’

She slipped over the Whispering Woods…or what was left of them. The majority of the ground was frozen below. As she came up to the palace of BrightMoon, she saw quite a sight.

Horde tanks were firing green blasts at the castle. One of the blasts fired by Catra made impact with the large stand that held the Moonstone upright. It stared to crack in half and threatened to fall, bringing the Moonstone to its doom under the lake. With a quick flick of her wrist, the stand holding the gem was encased in ice.

She proceeded to blast more Horde soldiers away with her powers.

Adora and the other princesses looked happy to see her.

Frosta flipped through the air and landed in front of She-Ra. “I hope I’m not too late,” she stated.

“No, you’re right on time,” said Adora.

For the first time in a long time, Frosta smiled. Then feeling impatient with Glimmer teleporting again and the group reuniting, she said, “Let’s do this already,” holding her staff in front of her.

Feeling a new energy within her, Frosta fought alongside the other princesses, forcing the Horde to retreat. She shot blasts of ice from a long staff she carried in her left hand.

Soon, the Moonstone brightened up the world, healed Glimmer and made things right again. When Frosta joined the other group of princesses who gave She-Ra extra power in rainbow waves, Frosta had never felt such happiness before. She glowed in a blue aura, with Perfuma and Glimmer on either side of her.

With victory for the Rebellion, Glimmer shook Frosta hard with glee, which she did not expect nor appreciate. Later, Frosta found herself cheering with Perfuma after the rainbow of power had been unleashed. “We did it!” both of them cheered. “We defeated them together! Isn’t this wonderful?” She happily hugged Perfuma and she hugged her back.

‘So this is what friendship is like,’ Frosta thought. For the first time in a while, Frosta truly felt like a kid again.

‘Mother and Father would be proud of me. If only they could see me now!’

As Frosta said her goodbyes and skated back to her kingdom, she did not know what the future would hold for her. In the back of her mind, she knew that the Horde was still out there. They would stop at nothing to conquer the land of Etheria along with the whole world. Now, she realized that her kingdom would be included on their list.

Her visit back was met with celebration and some apprehension. There were still people who could not accept a mere child ruling their kingdom but they were few and far between. The castle was now fully cleaned, repaired, and routines were set back in order. It was the same as it usually was.

Only this time, Frosta made plans to interact and travel with the Princess Alliance and help out in any way possible. Even though at times, she still had high expectations of other people.

No matter what the future would bring, Frosta would meet it head on like an unyielding glacier. To herself, she had the audacity to thank the Horde for what they had done. For without their involvement, Frosta would not have grown stronger and more resilient. Their attack at the Princess Prom made her want to defeat them more than ever before. It was a peculiar surge of adrenaline that she formerly, was not allowed to feel.

Being with her friends was…freeing. Weird, no doubt, but also freeing.

Frosta smiled as she hugged Perfuma.

“Yeah! We did things together! Isn’t this wonderful?”

Deep down inside herself, Frosta knew she had made the right decision. She would not just honor tradition…she would expand upon it, alter it to better her kingdom for the good of her people. It was a daunting task for such a young girl who was so used to routine…but then again, she was one not to be underestimated.

One thing was certain…her memories of her new friends would stay frozen in her mind for a long time.

Season 2

Time had passed since the Rebellion had been victorious at the battle for Bright Moon. Frosta had grown more light-hearted and friendly with the other princesses. She was more than happy to accompany them on their journey. She liked to imagine herself in large ice armor smashing through the Horde's robots and creating ice weapons from her hands. After being secluded in her ice palace and having to learn her responsibilities for four years as a ruler, she felt a new thrill of freedom with the others. She felt like she had made friends at last. In contrast to her previous cold and distant attitude, she has been shown to be reckless and wants to prove her strength in order to impress the others. She had learned how to be professional back at the castle, but around the other princesses, a different side of her appears...one that is enthusiastic, though socially awkward. Due to her traumatic situation at a young age, and being the youngest princess, she did not have a normal childhood. However, Adora and the others show her that it's never too late to make friends and step out of one's comfort zone once in a while.

Frosta smiled as she pounded her ice covered fists against one of the Horde bots that had been swarming the frozen forest. Frosta knocked one robot aside and gasped as another one flew at her.

“Got it,” said Mermista, stopping the robot with a wave of water and tossing it to the side. Bow lodged an arrow in the robot, causing it to explode.

Perfuma arrived on the scene, vines trailing in her wake. “Sorry, Frosta,” she said, feeling bad that she had accidentally flung the robots high into the air before.

“Wow, flower princesses can’t aim,” said Mermista with a playful grin.

“I-I’m working on it!” Perfuma stuttered.

“Look out!” cried Frosta as another robot appeared.

“Got it!” called Glimmer. The pink and purple haired girl teleported herself and the bot up into the pink sky. She kicked the robot down to the ground, where it exploded in a stream of smoke.

“Thanks for dropping in,” said Glimmer with a grin.

Frosta appeared by Glimmer’s right side and let lot a loud laugh.

“Dropping in, because you dropped him from the sky. Good one.”

Frosta slapped Glimmer playfully on the back, resulting in a glare from her. She rubbed her arm in pain, since Frosta’s ice hands had hurt. Glimmer wondered off in search of another bot, Frosta eager to follow.

Glimmer noticed another wondering bot and summoned a thin purple staff from purple light in her left hand.

“How’d you do that?”

Glimmer noticed Frosta and shouted in surprise.

Frosta showered her with questions. “Can you teleport anything you want? Like a cannon? I can make ice cannonballs.”

“What? No. Just the staff. It was my dad’s…Ugh. Actually, I was sort of in the middle of something here. Do you mind?”

A purple beam emerged from Glimmer’s staff but with a shout, Frosta had impaled the bot with a large ice spike.

“It’s more effective if you hit their core processing unit,” Frosta explained.

“Ugh. I know,” said a frustrated Glimmer. “I was about to…”

“Hey. There’s another one. Let’s get it,” interrupted Frosta. Glimmer groaned as Frosta hurried off.

Eventually, all the bots had been defeated.

Adora, Bow, and Glimmer walked down the hall at Bright Moon castle, Glimmer’s home. The other princesses had also arrived to the Rebellion’s base and were waiting inside the council room with Queen Angelina.

“You should have seen it,” Glimmer exclaimed. “With the Moonstone super-charged, I’ve been so much more powerful. I took out, like, at least five bots,” she bragged.

Bow rolled his eyes from behind her. “Just like the day before, and the day before that.”

Glimmer turned around and looked at him. “So? What are we supposed to do? Not fight? We have to protect the woods. The Horde is going to keep taking ground until it regrows.”

“I know,” said Bow. “But how long can we keep this up?” He faced Adora.

“Did you learn anything from Light Hope?”

“Uh…” Adora smiled nervously and pointed at her sword in her other hand. “Getting way better at transforming my sword. Look.”

The sword morphed into a golden water pitcher.

“A pitcher,” said Bow with a nervous chuckle as Adora gave a small thumbs up. “That’s so useful.”

“We can picnic once the woods regrow,” said Glimmer.

“We should turn it into a dagger,” said Frosta eagerly from behind her. Glimmer screamed.

Frosta continued. “See me take out that bot with daggers?”

“Where did you come from?” asked Glimmer.

“I’ve been here the whole time,” she stated.

Glimmer narrowed her eyes at Frosta. “Well, we have to go. We have an important meeting.”

“The war council?” Frosta asked. “I’m heading there, too.” She winked and whispered, “Better, hurry, you’re gonna be late.” She hurried down the hall, went into the room and took her seat.

Glimmer’s eyebrow twitched as Bow said playfully, “Do we have a new addition to the Best Friend Squad?”

“Shut up,” she replied with a sigh.

The council meeting was about to go underway.

Perfuma went up to Mermista. “Sorry, heh, I think that’s my chair.”

“Yeah, don’t you find it helpful to shift perspectives, sometimes?” Mermista asked, clearly not giving up her seat.

Perfuma’s eye twitched and she hummed, sitting down on her knees with her hands together, trying to calm herself. Glimmer, Bow, and Adora entered through the doors.

“Aunt Casta! You made it,” said Glimmer.

The woman beside Angelina smiled, her hair in black braids. “I wouldn’t miss it, dearest. The first war room of the new alliance. How exciting.”

Angelina glanced at her sister. “Shame you couldn’t be there where the alliance was formed.”

“I knew you’d bring that up…”

“We have a great deal to discuss,” said Angelina cutting Castaspella off. “Please take your seats.”

Frosta took her spot next to Glimmer and smiled. Glimmer grunted in response.

Frosta listened as Swift Wind and Glimmer reported on territories taken by the Rebellion or the Horde. Bow came up with a plan to capture one of the Horde bots for the possibility of using it against them. After a while, the queen rose from her chair. “Glimmer, take your patrol out and capture a bot for Bow to study and carry out his plan,” ordered Angelina.

Frosta stood in front of Glimmer, making her flinch. “Commander, I have ideas to improve. First we should all have code names. I’d like to be Frostbite. And you can be Sparklebomb. Second…”

Glimmer cut her off. “Oh uh, Frosta. I need you to stay back and help Spinnerella and Netossa guard the castle. Great, thanks.”

She vanished before Frosta could get any words out.

With the council dismissed and the mission in place, Frosta decided that she was going to help Glimmer and the others. There was no way she’d stay back and miss all the good fighting. As quietly as she could, Frosta followed the other princesses out the door and toward the frozen forest.

“Okay,” said Glimmer, pacing back and forth as the others stood in a line. “We’ll split up to cover the most ground. “Adora, Bow and I will go east. Mermista and Perfuma, you go west. Swift Wind, cover the sky and tell s when there’s a bot nearby.”

“And remember, we want an intact bot,” Bow added.

“What if it’s just like, a little waterlogged?” asked Mermista.

Perfuma chimed in, “And also covered in ferns that secrete corrosive poison?”

Frosta jumped out from behind the white Pegasus. “Or what if it’s totally smashed by my ice hammer?” She formed an ice hammer from her hand.

“Frosta!” gasped Glimmer. She sighed and walked fast toward her.

“You’re supposed to be defending the castle with Netossa and Spinnerella.”

Frosta crossed her arms, already tired of being told what to do.

“I know I ignored orders, but, no offence, those orders were wrong. You need me here.”

Glimmer put her hand son her hips. “You can’t just go running off whenever.”

“But I did,” said Frosta. “And I’m here now. And I’m not going back.”

“Fine. You can be in Mermista and Perfuma’s patrol.”

“I’m going with you.”

Glimmer leaned in, angrily. “Don’t push your luck.” She stomped off, Frosta glaring behind her.

Frosta wondered off with Mermista and Perfuma and, using her soft padded boots, snuck out of sight. She soon noticed Adora, Bow, and Glimmer fighting off a larger robot that looked more advanced than the previous ones.

It wasn’t long before the group was surrounded by four of the new robots. Now was her chance.

Frosta jumped with her ice fists ready and landed on top of one of the robots.

She hit the top part of the robot that held the purple lit camera.

“Frosta!” yelled Glimmer. “Do you even listen when people tell you things?”

“What?” asked Frosta, still attacking the bot.

Glimmer waved her staff. “Get away from that bot!”

“It’s the bot you should be worried about!” Frosta replied. A metal claw picked up Frosta by her jacket and flung her over a cliff.

“Frosta!” Glimmer cried as the ice princess screamed and fell. Teleporting, Glimmer grabbed hold of Frosta in midair and teleported them to another area before they both hit the ground hard.

“There you are. We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” said Perfuma, arriving on a vine.

“Yeah. Everywhere,” Mermista deadpanned.

Frosta stood up and rubbed her nose, while Glimmer rubbed her head.

“That was incredibly stupid!” Glimmer scolded. “You could’ve gotten hurt, or gotten one of us hurt!”

“I was just trying to help,” said Frosta.

“This is serious, not a game,” said Glimmer. “You need to stop getting in our way.”

Frosta stared at Glimmer, stunned. Tears fell from her eyes as she ran off.

“Frosta, wait,” pleaded Glimmer, but she had already left. Frosta climbed up a rock overlooking the land and sat down. So apparently, her friends thought of her as nothing more than a burden. She had wanted to make friends and not feel as lonely as she had for countless years.

Frosta could hear Glimmer’s feet from behind her. Frosta turned her head. “Come to yell at me more? I just wanted to be your friend.”

“By ignoring us and throwing yourself into danger?” Glimmer asked.

“Sorry, I don’t know how to act.” The next words she said were painful for her to hear. “I’ve never had any friends before.” She turned away, head in her arms.

Glimmer teleported next to her and sat down. Frosta looked up at Glimmer, with a sad look on her face.

“I was eight when I took over the throne. Kind of hard to make friends when everyone is your sworn subject.”

“I know how you feel,” said Glimmer, empathetically. “I didn’t have any friends before Bow and Adora.”

“You?” Frosta asked, surprised. “Figured everyone would wanna be your friend.”

Glimmer chuckled half-heartedly. “Yeah, definitely not everyone.”

Then glimmer added, “And I’m still learning how to be a good friend, too.”

They both went silent for a moment, staring at the ground. Gathering her courage Glimmer turned back to Frosta. “I’m sorry I yelled. It’s just…I guess you remind me of…me.”

Frosta was not expecting to hear that. Being more of an introvert and not having the same carefree personality as Glimmer, comparing herself to the Brightmoon princess would be the last thing she would consider.

Glimmer continued, “And I can do really dangerous stuff sometimes.”

“I remind you of you?” asked Frosta, her eyes big and shining.

Glimmer nodded. Then disgust crept into her voice. “Ugh. And I even sounded like my mom when I yelled at you. Please don’t make me to that again.”

“Deal,” said Frosta with a small smile. Frosta held out her hand. Glimmer was about to shake it, but Frosta briefly held it back. “Does that mean we’re friends?”

“Yes,” Glimmer answered. “And we…I could really use your help.”

Relief filled Frosta and she stood up. “You want me to come back? I knew we’d make a great team. So should I do ice hammers or daggers? Your right, one of each.” An ice hammer formed in her left hand and an ice spike from her right.

Glimmer laughed nervously and rolled her eyes, deciding to go along with it. The two of them climbed down and hurried after the others.

Frosta noticed the robots crawling toward the crystal tower and shot some ice underneath their metal legs, causing them to skid.

“Ice of you to drop in,” she said with a laugh.

Glimmer teleported her to safety to avoid an incoming laser. Both girls barreled into the bot and Frsota banged a large dent in it with her ice fist. “Showed you, bot face.”

Catra charged at the last remaining robot, landing a punch, which sent it back. Glimmer blasted it back with her magic.

“You ready, ice princess?” asked Mermista.

“Yeah,” Frosta replied.

Mermista shot water at the bot, pushing it back against a cliff.

Yes!” Frosta said as she froze the water.

Perfuma held the bot in place with vines.

Bow held a piece of tech in victory and the princesses cheered.

The princesses watched in amazement as auras outlined their bodies and the forest magically grew back to normal. Frosta’s aura was dark blue.

“Whoa. Did we do that?” asked Frosta, looking around.

The answer was a clear yes.

Frosta laughed and hugged Glimmer.

Later, the girls were back at Bright Moon castle. Frosta relaxed as Glimmer brushed her short blue hair.

“So, we’re okay now the woods are growing back, right?” Frosta asked.

“Light Hope says there’s still a lot to fix, but at least it won’t be as easy for the Horde to attack us.”

Frosta looked at Glimmer. “Thanks again for saving me, you know, after that bot threw me off the cliff.”

“Friends stick together. No princess left behind,” replied Glimmer. Adora held Frsota’s hand and the three of them laughed.

During another day, Frosta and Mermista met with the others during a battle plan.

“Mermista said you were playing. We wanna join,” said Frosta.

“Ugh. We’re in the middle of a very serious planning session,” sighed Adora.

“We have lots of ideas for plans,” Perfuma added.

“Aren’t you on watch right now?” Glimmer asked.

Adroa groaned. “But only if you’re serious…”

“I’m sitting next to Glimmer!” Frosta said joyfully as she sat down.

“I have ideas,” Frosta said. “Staring with we punch them!”

One by one, all the members fantasized battle plans, each with their unique twists. In Bow’s fantasy, Catra turned into a purple mountain lion.

“Wait, she can do that?” Frosta asked.

“No,” said Bow. “But I ran out of figures and only have this left, so she can now.”

Perfuma then began talking about using a plant golem to take down the tower.

Then Mermista fantasized about having She-Ra’s powers, holding a trident and calling herself “Sea-Ra.”

Frosta interrupted Perfuma. “The Winter’s Bane needs no help from a plant.”

Frosta imagined herself in full body ice armor similar to a transformer. The enemies were frozen in her ice. Frosta spoke in a dramatic voice.

“My enemies know me as Frostbite Winter’s Bane. My friends call me Bane. That is, if I had any. But no one comes close to the Winter’s Bane! She’s got a board sword that enhances strength plus three. Her finishing move is the Snow Strike.”

She pointed to a sketch of her character.

“What’s that pink blob?” asked Mermista.

“Her sidekick, Glimmer.”

The group continued talking, with Frosta adding her own ideas. “Frostbite uses Snowstrike to encase the tower in ice, then crack it, kapow!”

“Frostbite smashes the wall!” Frosta exclaims.

“The ice armor cracks as you hit stone,” Adora says.

The group then began talking about Catra.

Frosta disagreed with Perfuma and said, “No, no, no, she’s more like ‘I love ruining parties.’” She imagined a drunk Catra holding a glass of wine, with sunglasses.

Adora soon began worrying that the Horde would defeat them and was about to give up. Her friends gave her words of encouragement.

“The Winter’s Bane stands with you. Also, me, Frosta stands with you. I can’t tell if we’re still in character.”

The princesses soon launched their improvised attack on the tower, Perfuma staring with her plant golem. Frosta encased the cannons in ice.

“Yay, Frosta!” cheered Perfuma.

Frosta’s arms, hands, and chest were covered in ice armor. “This is colder than I thought, but not a problem.”

She charged through the line of Horde robots, knocking them over the wall with her ice fists. “Snow Strike!” She knocked two robots down and then a third.

“Huh?”

One of her hands was free from the ice, but water splashed on it, making ice appear again.

“Thanks, Mermista!” Frosta called.

“You mean Sea-Ra, Princess of the Oceans!” She conjured up a wave that splashed throughout the tower.

Adora, Mermista, Perfuma and Frosta yelled their battle cries.

“Charge!”

“I am Sea-Ra!”

“Plant magic!”

“The Winter’s Bane!”

The princesses were soon glowing and knocked off Scorpia and the other Horde soldiers. The Rebellion swiped down the red Horde flag and cheered.

Season 3

Perfuma, Mermista, and Queen Angella analyzed the holographic map on the round table in front of them. Over toward the back of the chamber, Frosta stood by a map, sticking another smaller map into place with an icicle. Netossa and Spinerella watched intently. They were all trying to come up with another way to defeat the Horde.

Mermista gasped and fell backwards out of her chair, when an exhausted Glimmer and Bow appeared with Huntara.

“You’re already here. Perfect,” said Glimmer nervously.

Mermista picked herself up. “Yeah, where have you been?”

She glanced over at the lavender skinned warrior. “Is this some new She-Ra form?”

“No. This is Huntara,” Glimmer explained. “She’s the leader of the Crimson Waste. Or was.”

Huntara observed the map with fascination and swiped at the image with her hand, a child-like expression on her face. Swift Wind arrived and pushed her out of the way.

Glimmer continued. “Uh, we don’t have time to get into it. We need to get to the Fright Zone.”

“The world doesn’t stop just because you aren’t here,” Angella warned. “We have been planning our attack on the Horde.”

“That’s a relief,” added Bow. “Because Catra kidnapped Adora.”

Everyone gasped, including Frosta, Netossa, and Spinerella, who turned around.

“The Horde has Adora?” Angella asked.

“Which also means they can open a portal because they have her sword,” Glimmer explained.

“What? I don’t understand…”

“There’s no time.”

“Glimmer, slow down…”

“We need to get to the Fright Zone now,” Glimmer spoke in urgency.

“We?” asked Angella. “You are not going anywhere until you explain.” She stood up and unfurled her white transparent wings. “Glimmer, outside. Now.”

Frosta continued observing her maps, as Glimmer and Angella walked outside, the doors closing behind them.

When their conversation was over, Frosta and the others rushed from their hiding spot behind the doors. Several of the princesses whistled innocently, like they had not been eavesdropping.

Later on that night, Perfuma, Frosta and Mermista used their powers to hoist themselves onto the raised platform. Perfuma got up using vines, Mermista via a rising wave of water, and Frosta, via ice.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Mermista asked.

Glimmer summoned her staff into her hand. “Don’t try to stop us. This is the only way to save Adora.”

“We’re not trying to stop you. We wanna come with you,” Perfuma said.

Mermista smirked. “We could do the whole “you can’t come with us, it’s too risky” thing…”

Frosta stepped up. “Or you could just accept that we are coming. Because we are.”

Shadow Weaver spoke from behind. “A larger group will be a disadvantage. I won’t…”

Mermista interrupted her, pointing at her. “We’re calling the shots. You’re gonna have to make that thing bigger, weird, scary lady.”

Reluctantly, Shadow Weaver complied.

“Quickly now,” she urged.

She spread out tendrils of dark purple magic from her hands and down below, the complex circle of symbols and shapes lit up. Shadow Weaver made another symbol in the air, identical to the symbol on the ground. She extended her hand through the small hole, beckoning Glimmer to take it.

After a brief hesitation and a deep breath, Glimmer’s hand grasped hers.

The moment their hands touched, dark purple power swirled around the area, the energies of the Black Garnet and the Moonstone converging. It wasn’t long before all the group members were transported into the heart of the Fright Zone.

“We did it. I did it. Oh that was amazing,” Glimmer exclaimed, jumping for joy.

“Hmm,” said Bow in thought. “Kind of figured Hordak’s sanctum would be way scarier and not so empty.”

“Yeah no,” Mermista added. “Decorating is not their strongest suit.”

“We aimed for Hordak’s sanctum, but obviously, we missed,” said Shadow Weaver. “We’re not far. Stay behind me. And try to be quiet.”

The door opened to reveal a blue skinner reptile humanoid, holding a blue cup in his hands. All the princesses and Bow turned around. The Horde cadet dropped his cup in shock, spilling the rocky and sloppy contents on the ground.

“We have to go,” called Shadow Weaver, pushing a button and opening a metal door.

“I’ll hold her off,” said Perfuma, before Mermista, Bow, Glimmer, and Frosta hurried after the sorceress.

As the group ran, the door ahead opened up, revealing Lonnie and Rogelio. Glimmer stood, conjuring balls of glittery light in her hands. Frsota already had formed ice fists around her hands.

Lonnie pulled a lever, sounding the alarm before pulling out a stun weapon. Rogelio roared and charged.

Mermista walked forward, pulling water from beneath a sewer grate to the right. “My turn. I didn’t almost drown in these sewers for nothing.”

Frosta strode forward. “I want in.”

She waved her hand and Mermista’s water turned into shards of ice. Mermista fired them at Rogelio and Lonnie, catching their hands and legs in ice.

“We’ll keep them busy. Go,” Mermista called. Mermista and Frosta stayed behind to fight off incoming soldiers while Glimmer, Bow, and shadow Weaver disappeared down another corridor.

She-Ra walked through the portal. In one strike of her sword, she broke it and the machine collapsed.

“Adora!” shouted Glimmer and Bow, both running over and embracing her in a hug. All of their eyes shone with tears.

“See? We told you, you could do it,” mentioned Glimmer.

“Who hoo!” Frosta cheered. “Yes, we did it. We did it.”

Frosta ran over and hugged Adora as Perfuma and Mermista also joined in.

“Touching as this is, we need to go,” Shadow Weaver cut in. “Now.”

She held out her hand. Glimmer stepped forward and took it. The others let go of Adora and took their positions. The black power swirled around them, transporting them back to the raised platform where the Moonstone resided.

Everyone laughed and shouted with joy; Perfuma even hugging a stiff unamused Shadow Weaver.

“We did it,” said Bow, lifting Glimmer up and carrying her around.

“Did we do it?”

“We did it,” Glimmer assured. “I’m probably going to be grounded for the rest of my life, but reality is back to normal.” Bow gently put Glimmer down.

“Speaking of which, I guess I should go find my mom. Maybe she’ll be so happy to see me that she’ll forget about grounding me.”

Adora slowly walked over to Glimmer, head lowered, and silent.

“Adora, what is it?” Glimmer asked in confusion.

Adora transformed out of her She-Ra form and embraced her in a somber hug. Glimmer knew then what she was telling her.

Adora started to cry. “Angella, she…she stayed behind. She…she saved us.”

Tears pooled in Glimmer’s eyes. Frosta and the others gathered around, comforting Glimmer and Adora.

Season 4

Glimmer, Adora, and Bow followed Castaspella down the hall. Castaspella explained the process of Glimmer’s coronation.

“So the ceremony begins with the Ritual Quest, followed by your first speech as queen. And most importantly, the whole thing ends with a Grand Ball!”

Adora gasped. “Oh, there’s a quest! We’re great at quests.”

Castaspella continued, “The Quest of Queens, in which Glimmer will forge her connection to the Moonstone. The Moonstone’s power has been balanced between you and your mother since you’ve been born, but now, with her…her absent…”

“So, about that quest!” Bow cut in. “We’re great at quests, right?”

Castaspella cast a spell, a blue circle design in the air, which a scroll appeared. She tossed it over to Bow.

“Yes, it’s in the scrolls. Secret ritual, witnesses, light, etcetera, etcetera. Oh, and you’ll need this.”

She threw an elegant lantern into Bow’s arms, the interior glowing with a white flower against light blue.

A shirtless man with wild white hair arrived with a large bouquet of red and pink roses, nettled in green.

“Are those the flower arrangements?” Castaspella asked in amazement. “Glimmer, what do you think?”

Glimmer mumbled awkwardly raising an eyebrow. “Oh uh, they’re, uh, fine?”

“You’re right, they’re awful!” said Castaspella. She turned to the man. “Burn them at once. Also, you’re fired.”

The man sobbed into the bouquet and ran off.

“Aunt Casta, you…” Glimmer began.

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” said Castaspella, touching Glimmer’s nose. “In addition to being a powerful sorceress, I am also a legendary party-planner. This will be a coronation for the ages! Glimmer, take us to the terrace!”

Glimmer merely sighed and walked on.

“Oh, we’re…we’re walking, are we? Great. We can use the exercise.”

Glimmer, Bow, and Adora stood outside in the castle grounds, Frosta across from them. Frosta had made something for Glimmer’s coronation as the new queen of Bright Moon.

“What do you think?” Frosta asked Glimmer. She presented a grotesque ice sculpture of Glimmer and Frosta with strong muscles, looking angry.

“I wanted to do something special for you,” she explained.

Glimmer lowered her head. “This is going to be awful.”

But oblivious Frosta wasn’t paying attention. “Awful inspiring, right? I can make more!”

Glimmer held up her hands and gently placed hers on Frosta’s. “I appreciate the idea. But I need someone for a very important job to, uh, greet the guests.”

Frosta jumped into the air in excitement. “Oh! You need a bouncer?”

Frosta smashed her newly created ice fists together.

“I’m on it! Bouncer!”

She happily ran off.

“Wait, I didn’t say bouncer,” Glimmer began, but the ice princess had left.

“Glimmer!” called her aunt. “I need your opinion on color schemes.”

“Uh…blue?”

There was an awkward silence.

“What about purple?”

“Excellent choice,” said her aunt. “Isn’t this fun? Soon you will have to make many decisions just like your mother…”

Adora and Bow rapidly shook their heads.

“That is, uh…chop, chop, everyone! Adora, move the ice sculpture to the side!”

Adora walked off, grunting with moving the heavy blocks of ice.

“We still need flower arrangements!” called Castaspella. “Where’s that florist?”

“You fired him,” said Glimmer.

“Oh, right. Perhaps you’d like to do the flowers, Glimmer?”

Glimmer looked toward Mermista, who let out a long drawn out yawn.

“You know, I bet Mermista would love to do the flowers! Right Mermista?”

Mermista spoke with sarcasm. “Wow, how did you know? Flower arranging is my passion.”

“Ah, wonderful!” said Castaspella. “Now let’s talk stem length.”

Perfuma cried out loud, “What? No! Why?” Her giant dark pink flowers wilted as she sank to her knees, upset of her position being taken.

Swift Wind turned to Glimmer. “Is now a good time to talk about my song for the coronation? I will require a stage and oats for the backup horses.”

Frosta created a thick wall of ice between them and the horse flew off.

“Stop bothering Glimmer! Bouncer!”

“Hey!” said Adora, sliding over. “I think it’s all really coming together, don’t you?”

Adora led her over to Bow.

“Yep, it’s gonna be perfect! What else do we need to do, Bow?”

Bow held a long scroll on his hands.

“Still don’t know what the lantern is for! This is so official and confusing. It says Glimmer needs to wear some ceremonial robe. I don’t know where to get all that!”

“Maybe if we all looked together…” Glimmer suggested before Adora cut in.

“Don’t worry! We’ll find it!”

“But…”

Castaspella interrupted. “Glimmer, you’re needed in the Dining Room to choose the napkin folding technique! I’m thinking swans. What do you think?”

“Uh…”

“You’re right, it’s a terrible idea. I should just fire myself.”

“Aunt Casta, no…”

A gush of water then soaked both of them.

Glimmer pulled a starfish off of her and Castaspella threw away a vine of seaweed.

“Mermista! Vases!” Castaspella yelled.

Mermista stood in a large puddle of water and seaweed. “Don’t stifle my creativity!”

“Ugh. Please.”

“It’s okay. We will handle everything,” said Adora, transforming her sword into a mop. “You go have fun!”

Bow scooted away.

Glimmer sighed. “Fun. Right.”

After Adora arrived from inside the castle later on, Frosta walked over to her.

“Adora, I’ve been freezing anyone trying to sneak in, but I’m running out of space to put them.”

She mentioned to Sea Hawk frozen in mid-run.

“Unfreeze him right now!” Adora demanded.

Frosta nodded and ran off.

Perfuma snuck over to where Mermista was busy putting things together.

“Mermista, um. Flowers are sort of my thing.”

Mermista had put coral, starfish, shells, and seaweed onto a large rock.

“Uh, it’s art and it’s what Glimmer wants. New queen, new era.”

Frosta then noticed Perfuma and Mermista fighting over Mermista’s sculpture and pushed the two girls apart by their faces.

“Stop fighting! You’re ruining Glimmer’s big day! Bouncer!”

Bow walked over. “Okay, has anyone seen a sacred lantern?”

“Yeah, there,” said Mermista, pointing to Swift Wind, Adora’s self-centered and valiant steed. The horse had the lantern hanging from his horn.

Bow sighed and walked over.

“Oh!” said Adora. “We’ve been looking all over for it! Thanks, Swifty.”

Swift Wind held it out of arms reach, attached to his horn.

“And I’ll present it to Queen Glimmer. Then she’ll be all, “Swift Wind, why don’t you sing the coronation song you made up?”

Swift Wind then sang obnoxiously. “Queen Glimmer, it’s your day. We’re all excited for you.” Bow and Adora wrestled with the winged stallion. Frosta went to check on Sea Hawk, and he was still frozen.

Mermista and Perfuma stood close to Glimmer.

“Glimmer, can you please tell Perfuma to stop questioning your wise judgement?”

“What? I’m not…”

Frosta interrupted Glimmer, grabbing hold of her face.

“Where do you keep the blankets? Sea Hawk is whining about being frozen.”

“Why did…”

Glimmer,” said her aunt, cutting in. “The quest is due to begin. Where’s the latern?”

“I have it!” called Swift Wind. “And now, my song!”

Perfuma argued with Mermista. “Everyone knows Glimmer would be happier with me on flowers!”

“Glimmer disagrees,” Mermista deadpanned.

“Glimmer, your guests are waiting,” Castaspella reminded her.

As Perfuma and Mermista argued, Frosta yelled, “Everyone, stop bothering Glimmer! She has a ton on her plate.”

Swift Wind belted out more off-key words, “Till the end, until I die, of course.”

The commotions, the noise, the pressure, the loss of her beloved mother…

It was all too much for Glimmer.

“Everyone, just stop!”

Glimmer’s yell was so loud, that the ice Glimmer head broke off and rolled to her feet. Everyone gasped.

Castaspella put a comforting hand on her niece’s shoulder. “Glimmer, we will fix all of this.”

Glimmer walked over to Bow and held out her hands. Bow handed her the lantern.

“Let’s just get this over with,” said Glimmer, before walking away.

Glimmer made her way over to her room and sat sadly on a round lavender cushion. She stared at her hands, and watched a few sparkles appear around her hands. Glimmer remembered how she recently looked at the shimmering MoonStone high above on the golden stand. Her body has glowed and sparkled pink, like the stone was calling to her.

But to take all the power for herself, and her mother not being here…

Glimmer had been fine with the shared power she possessed for all her life. The sudden changes were hard, shocking…heartbreaking. For Glimmer, receiving her mother’s power felt overwhelming. Could she be prepared to be Queen of Bright

Moon, even with Angella not around to guide her?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Bow, Adora, and Castaspella entered the room.

“Well, it took some searching, but we finally found the Royal Coronation Robe!” said Bow.

Adora held a white sheet in her hands. She walked over and draped it over Glimmer. Glimmer glared at the heavy thing on her.

“Wow, Glimmer…” she began. “You look…um…”

Adora held a thumbs up, staring at the way too big robe.

Glimmer gave a nervous smile, then looked downcast.

Concerned Castaspella made her way to her niece.

“Oh, my little Glimmer. I’m so proud of you.”

She tenderly touched her cheek.

“I know you’re going to make such a wonderful queen.”

In an attempt to cheer her up, Castaspella continued, “Almost time for your quest! Give me a tick and this robe will fit like a dream!”

“Of course,” sighed Glimmer, sitting down on the cushion. “The quest we still don’t know anything about. But it’ll be fine. Castaspella will fix the robe, Bow has the lantern, and I’ll have you guys by my side the whole way.”

Later on, a nervous, sad, but determined Glimmer walked between the woodland man creatures, across the white bridge and over to Bow, Adora, and her aunt. A banner with a golden symbol of the MoonStone stood proudly over to the left. Her ceremonial robe now fit her perfectly. It was white with a golden symbol of a crescent moon pointed upwards on the back. The waterfall curtain behind them fell with barely any noise; the water reflecting sunset colors of light orange, pink, and blue from the top to the bottom.

Glimmer held the lantern in both shaking hands. She walked over with determination and then turned to face the crowd.

Castaspella opened up her scroll and read aloud.

“We are gathered here today to witness the crowning of Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon as she completes the Quest of Queens and begins her reign as our new leader. She will be accompanied by two witnesses, Master Archer Bow, and Adora, She-Ra, princess of Power.”

Mermista closed her eyes and opened the curtain of water with her powers. Perfuma, Sea Hawk, and Frosta stood with her to watch in their fancy Princess Prom gowns.

Castaspella continued. “Let the light guide you and go forth in peace and safety to emerge as Queen of Bright Moon.”

Glimmer, Bow, and Adora stepped in, and the watery curtain closed behind them.

Later on, the sky had turned dark. When Glimmer emerged from the Chamber of Queens, triumphant in her quest, the hall was all set up for the party. Frosta had made two new ice statues of Glimmer and Queen Angella holding hands. Perfuma had created vines of green with flowers in them that hung from the top of blue and purple banners on either side. Glimmer cried tears of joy.

“This place looks amazing!” Glimmer exclaimed, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Perfuma, Mermista, and Frosta arrived in the same gowns they wore to the previous Princess Prom.

“We wanted it to be perfect for you,” said Frosta.

“So we worked together to finish,” added Perfuma.

“That was my idea,” said Mermista.

“Glimmer,” said Castaspella. “It’s time.”

She mentioned to the golden throne high up. Smiling, Glimmer walked up the floating golden round steps and up to the throne.

She took a deep breath, having planned what her speech would be.

“I am here today because Queen Angella, my mother, sacrificed herself to save Etheria. We can’t let her bravery be in vain. But there’s so much we still need to do. Hordak is still in power, and we know there’s an even larger Horde army out there somewhere. We can’t let them win. It’s time for us to take back our home. Together, we will push out the Horde, once and for all!”

The crowd cheered and stood up in an ovation, fists and hands in the air. Frosta and Perfuma hugged each other as they cheered. “Yeah!” cheered Bow and he and She-Ra hugged.

Glimmer smiled at the ice statue of Angella, the ice face smiling and eyes closed…at peace. Seeing her sweet angelic face, Glimmer knew her mother would be proud.

“Mer-Mysteries”

Known books:

“Mer-Mystery: The Pearl Who Knew Too Much”

“Mer-Mystery: Secret of the Abalone”

“Mer-Mystery: Serpent of the Sea”

“Mer-Mystery: The Maltese Otter”

“Mer-Mystery: Salt-er Ego”

Potential titles:

“Mer-Mystery: Rip Current Events”

“Mer-Mystery: Seaweed Scandal”

“Mer-Mystery: The Missing Mermaid”

“Mer-Mystery: Lost at Sea”

“Mer-Mystery: Cat-Fished”

“Mer-Mystery: The Case of the Great White”

“Mer-Mystery: Hidden in the Coral Reef”

“Mer-Mystery: Devious as a Clam”

“Mer-Mystery: Brainwash in the Deep Blue”

“Mer-Mystery: Murder at Salineas Shore”

“Mer-Mystery: The Stolen Trident”

Mer-Mystery: Atlantis Apocalypse”

“Mer-Mystery: Sea Shell Standoff”

One stormy night, the princesses sat together in one of the chambers of Bright Moon castle. Frosta had a bored look on her face, arms crossed, next to Perfuma who stared off into space. Other sin the room included Mermista, Sea Hawk, Perfuma, Flutterina, Adora, Bow, and Glimmer. Glimmer stood facing the fire in the fireplace. Mermista sat on the couch next to Sea Hawk who was lying down, tired.

Glimmer turned around. “I called you all here to discuss what happened today. The mission to retake Dryl was a complete disaster. We barely made it out. I wanna know why.”

Bow spoke up. “The Horde knew we were coming. They were ready. How do they keep doing this? We thought they were tracking Adora, but she wasn’t even there today.”

Mermista then slammed her hands down on the table. “Isn’t it obvious? There’s a Horde spy somewhere in Bright Moon.”

Outside, the sky lit up white as thunder rumbled.

“And no one is going anywhere until we figure out who it is.”

Thunder crashed again.

Mermista,” said Glimmer, “It’s very unlikely that there’s a spy…”

“We need to investigate,” Mermista cut in, pacing back and forth. “I’ll be the lead detective since I’ve read every single Mer-Mystery book.”

“Mer-what?” asked Adora.

Mermista moved over behind the couch dramatically. “Mer-Mystery. It’s only the best undersea mystery novel series ever. There’s 18 of them. It taught me everything about solving mysteries.”

She leaned in, and said louder, “Murder mysteries.” Sea Hawk fell down on the couch in shock.

Perfuma raised her hand. “Um, but no one’s been murdered.”

“Yet!” added Mermista, moving between Frosta and Perfuma, making Perfuma flinch. “First, we need to question the suspects.”

“Who are the suspects?” asked Frosta.

“Everyone is a suspect,” stated Mermista.

“Everyone?” asked Bow. “Is anyone else sweating? I’m sweating.”

Glimmer sighed. “This is a waste of time. We know that the Horde is pulling their troops back for something big. That’s what we should be investigating.”

“No, Mermista’s right,” said Adora. “And it can’t be me the Horde’s tracking, since, once again, you used me as a distraction today. A spy is really the only thing that makes sense.”

Glimmer crossed her arms. “Maybe they didn’t fall for the distraction because you’re a bad actress. And who would the spy even be, anyway?”

“Heh,” said Adora. “How about the Horde officer who’s living at…I’m sorry, being held prisoner at Bright Moon? Shadow Weaver has actual spies. We met them.”

“Shadow Weaver does seem like the obvious suspect,” said Mermista. “Which means it definitely isn’t her. It’s never the obvious one. Like in Mer-Mystery: The Pearl Who Knew Too Much. You think it’s the pearl, but it’s not.”

“Spoilers!” cried Perfuma, flinching again.

Mermista pointed off in the distance. “It’s time to interrogate the castle.”

Lightning and thunder crashed once again.

“How are you doing that?” Frosta asked.

“I practice at home!” Mermista answered dramatically as thunder boomed again. Glimmer facepalmed and groaned.

As lightning flashed across the sky, Flutterina hummed a happy tune as they went inside a tent on the Rebellion campsite. Checking that the coast was clear, they transformed into Double Trouble. The chameleon flopped onto a cushion and took out a tracker pad, pressing a button. Catra’s angry face appeared on screen. “Move. Now. We don’t have all night, Kyle.”

“Meow. You all right there, kitten?” they asked.

Catra stared straight ahead. “About time you checked in. Are the princesses still moping around about Dryl?”

“No,” they said with a scoff. “Watching them mope was my favorite. Now they’re playing detective, searching for the elusive Horde spy who foiled their plans.”

“Wait. Spy? Is your cover blown?”

“Please,” they said. “Who would suspect a goody-two-shoes like Flutterina? Besides, if they get suspicious, I’ll do a quick wardrobe change and throw the blame onto someone else.”

They transformed into a guard.

“They better not,” Catra demanded. “Keep them in Bright Moon. If they catch on before the plan is complete, before our bug mission is done, I…”

They transformed back. “Darling, darling, don’t worry. I’ll just tire them out a bit.”

A dark brown skinned guard sat on the couch in front of Mermista and Perfuma. Mermista slapped her hands on the table. “Where were you when the murders happened?”

“The what?” asked the guard.

Mermista slapped her hands again, Perfuma winced and shook her hand.

“Don’t think you can get away with it,” added Perfuma. She turned to Mermista. “Although, there still aren’t any murders, Mermista.”

“Yet.” Mermista planted her foot on the table.

“I sincerely do not have time for this,” stated the guard.

“According to a bunch of other people…”

“Witnesses!” yelled Perfuma. “…you weren’t where you were supposed to be at the battle for Dryl.”

“I followed the plan exactly,” said the guard.

Perfuma planted her foot on the table causing the flower shaped head lamp to shake. “A likely…sorry, a likely story!”

“Admit it,” said Mermista. “You were slipping away to warn the Horde of our plan. Just like in Mer-Mystery: Secret of the Abalone. That one’s really good. You should read it.”

Perfuma took notes on her scroll of paper in fancy cursive: “Maintain scowl,” “Hit the table,” “Secret of the Abalone.”

The guard moved the spotlight away. “Look, this is what happened. “On approach to Dryl, Glimmer filled me in. She-Ra would lure away the Horde. Team A, Frosta, Bow, and Flutterina, would scout ahead. Team B, Sea Hawk and Mermista, would guard the exits. Team A indicated the coast was clear, and we converged on their signal. That’s when Frosta ran into us and said, “We haven’t finished scouting.”

Team A sent the all clear. If you wanna know what went wrong, ask Bow.”

“Okay, I confess, it was me” he cried.

Frosta stared back at him in her chair. “We’re not even interrogating you.”

“I mean, if I am the spy, it’s an accident. I think. Can you be an accidental spy? Do I have an evil alter-ego? Or was I brainwashed and I’m just realizing it now?”

A shirtless man with a flower necklace sat next to Bow. “So, like, are you guys still questioning me or…”

Bow took the spotlight and held it up to his face. “It all goes back to what happened in Dryl. Everyone was in position, and I was using my new tech to look for remaining Horde soldiers. But then, my goggles glitched and I don’t know what happened. I started to see double. That’s when the other team came in way too early. I tried to signal everyone to fall back, but my tracker pad was missing.”

“Whoa,” breathed the shirtless guy.

“Don’t you see what this means?” Bow asked. “Either I lost my tracker pad at Dryl, and that gave the Horde vital information, or I did it on purpose because I am the spy, and I gave the signal and I didn’t even know.”

Bow grabbed the guy’s flower wreath. The shirtless guy stared into Bow’s eyes. “You’re blowing my mind.”

“Bow!” called Frosta. “You aren’t the spy!”

Bow’s voice rose up in panic. “You don’t know that! It all makes sense. Who else could it be?”

Meanwhile in Shadow Weaver’s dark garden…

Adora paced back and forth. “So you’re telling me, you really didn’t know about the plan to retake Dryl? Really?”

Shadow Weaver held a dark rose in her hands. “Not a bit. I’ve been busy with my garden. She’s always been paranoid like this, you know.”

Glimmer giggled under her breath. “I’m not being paranoid,” Adora argued. “You were spotted around the castle without your guards this morning, and I wanna know why.”

“Actually, Adora, that’s…” started Glimmer.

“I was engaging in a ritual,” Shadow Weaver explained. She recounted the time when she stood by her magic basin, naming ingredients and adding them in.

“Essence of Echinacea. A dash of Gingerroot. Ah. My daily morning ritual.”

She held a cup of tea in content.

Adora burst out laughing. “Okay, you expect us to believe you were just having tea? She’s the spy. You’re the spy. Who else could it be?”

“I am not the villain of this story,” stated the sorceress. “As to your question, Glimmer saw fit to grant me free rein of the castle. My guards have been dismissed.”

“No guards? Seriously?” Adora glared at Glimmer.

“Yes, seriously,” she shot back. “What has she done other than to help us?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Girls,” warned Shadow Weaver, “Every moment you waste here, the Horde gets that much further ahead. In order to catch a rat, you need to spring a trap.”

“Well in order to catch the spy, we need you to admit that you’re the spy,” blasted Adora.

“Let it go, Adora,” said Glimmer. “There’s lots of other people it could be.”

“Like who?”

“Ah,” Sea Hawk sighed happily, propping his feet on the table back in the chamber. “I love recounting the epic tales of my exploits. My heroic exploits.”

Mermista groaned out loud, Perfuma sitting next to her on the couch. “It definitely isn’t Sea Hawk. Why did you even bring him in?”

“You said everyone was a suspect,” mentioned Perfuma.

“Exploits for the ages,” Sea Hawk began. “Narration. I was supposed to be guarding the door. But Perfuma relieved me of duty so I could join the fight. I advanced through the courtyard, avoiding the booby traps, risking my very life, just like in Mer-Mystery: Serpent of the Sea.”

“Wait, is that were my book went?” asked Mermista. “Sea Hawk, I’ve been looking for it.”

Sea Hawk continued his story. “That’s when the clouds parted, and the moonlight illuminated my dearest Mermista in the distance.”

“Moonlight?” Mermista sighed. “The battle happened this morning.”

“I made my way over to her when…we were ambushed! My sole aim was to protect Mermista from the Horde. Thinking quick, I took on the 40 or 50 Horde soldiers surrounding us, and saved Dryl.”

“We lost Dryl, and you punched, like, one guy before Glimmer got us out,” Glimmer said with a laugh.

“Exactly 100 guys!” he countered.

Both woman facepalmed. “Wait, wait,” said Perfuma, “I was with the General the whole time.” She leaned in and glared at Mermista, crossing her arms. “And why weren’t you with Sea Hawk, Mermista?”

“Because Frosta waved me over, but disappeared before I could reach her.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense. She was with Bow, and then Glimmer, and the others were…”

“Who wants to watch me do some squats?” Sea Hawk asked, beginning his exercise.

Mermista then proceeded to shove him out of the room.

“I bet Adora and Glimmer don’t shove suspects out the door.”

Flutterina sat innocently on a chair, while Adora and Glimmer stood apart, turned away from each other.

“Okay, Flutterina,” asked Glimmer, “Where were you at the start of the battle?”

“With Bow and Frosta, of course. Like we planned. Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine,” said Glimmer. “Now…”

Flutterina spoke up, “It’s just that, everyone’s so on edge after what happened in Dryl. Have you tried interviewing Shadow Weaver about it? She seems kind of untrustworthy.”

“Oh no,” said Adora with sarcasm. “According to Glimmer, she’s totally trustworthy, and it’s fine to just let her walk around the castle whenever she wants.”

“Can we please not start this up again?” Glimmer asked.

“I’m just saying, it would’ve been nice if you told me.”

“I don’t have to tell you about every decision I make.”

Adora panted in anger. “But you tell Shadow Weaver?”

“Maybe it’s because Shadow Weaver actually listened when you and Bow kept leaving without me!” Glimmer fired back.

Flutterina smiled. “You two seem like you have a lot to talk about. Maybe I’ll just come back later.”

Glimmer added, “I don’t know why I’m going along with this. The Horde is obviously planning something. We should be out there, looking for them, not stuck here, playing around.”

Double Trouble grinned deviously through their disguise as Adora and Glimmer continued their argument.

“No one’s playing around, Glimmer. There is a reason we’ve been losing.”

“And we’re going to keep losing soon if we don’t act.”

Mermista opened the door, the other princesses behind her, startling Flutterina. “There you are. Why are you just standing around? This isn’t Mer-Mystery: The Case of People Who Just Stood Around, the sequel I wrote right now about all of you.”

“Who is even left to question?” asked Glimmer.

Later on that night, several other people were questioned.

“I think I saw Mermista with Bow’s tracker pad,” said an elfish man standing with Entrapta’s baker and servant.

“Wait, you guys have been here the entire time?” asked Bow. Perfuma and Mermista stood with him.

“Tiny scone?” asked the baker, holding up a small desert.

During another interrogation, Mermista, Frosta, and Sea Hawk talked with one of the guards. “I can’t believe you read those too,” said the guard. “Mer-Mystery: The Maltese Otter is my favorite.”

“Ugh, that one’s so predictable,” groaned Mermista. “I saw that twist coming a mile away.”

Swift Wind was next and he did a pose on the table along with a neigh.

Mermista, Perfuma and Adora rolled their eyes.

“Swift Wind, you weren’t even there,” stated Adora.

“I told you how I took out 100…no 150 guys right?” asked Sea Hawk.

Mermista groaned again, frustrated.

Bow them walked over to the front, tears in his eyes and held out his hands. “You have to arrest me for everyone’s safety. Otherwise, my evil alter-ego might do it again.”

“Bow, knock it off,” Glimmer demanded.

Swift Wind posed again with a mace in his mouth.

“Still no,” said Adora. “And put that back.”

Mermista took a look at the other people coming in for the interrogations.

A group of people, one with three eyes…

“It’s not them,” said Mermista.

A bunch of fauns and a dark skinned lady with bull horns…

“No,” said Perfuma.

Netossa and Spinerella in fancy clothing, holding a bouquet of flowers. Two butlers standing awkwardly to the side.

“No,” stated Glimmer.

The shirtless guy came forward. “Okay, dude, I think, like, maybe She-Ra did it.”

“Hey, we already questioned you,” Frosta reminded him.

“Oh yeah, I came back for the tiny scones.”

“I made a fresh batch,” said the smiling baker as the guy popped one into his mouth.

“Fizzy beverage?” asked another server.

“If you just lent me the book, then I’ll show you who done it,” said Mermista to Sea Hawk.

“We should interrogate him again,” argued Perfuma.

“Happened in Pearl in the Window,” Mermista mentioned.

Glimmer stood in her darkened bedroom, watching the lightning flash outside. She conjured her staff in her hand, getting ready to handle the issue herself.

“Glimmer? Where are you going?” Adora asked as she walked behind her.

“This isn’t working. Nothing we do is working. The Horde is always ahead, and I just can’t wait for the next bad thing to happen.”

Adora walked over. “So what? You’re gonna teleport into the Fright Zone and try to solve this by yourself?”

“Someone’s gotta do something.”

“Glimmer, please,” begged Adora. “You can’t leave in the middle of the night without backup.”

Glimmer shook her head. “The less people involved, the better. We don’t know who to trust.”

“And what about me? Were you gonna tell me? Or Bow?”

“Adora, I…”

“Stay. Please. I know we can figure this out if we work together. No more secrets and doing things without us.” Adora placed her hands on Glimmer’s shoulders.

“We need you here. I need you here,” she said softly.

Glimmer’s staff vanished and she put her hand on Adora’s. “Okay. I’m here.”

“Adora! Glimmer!” called Bow.

Frosta opened the doors to Glimmer’s darkened bedroom, spotting Adora and Glimmer. “Where have you guys been?”

“The communication panel in the war room has been severed,” said Perfuma with concern.

All the princesses made their way to the room and sure enough, the holographic map had a hole in it.

“When did this happen?” Adora asked.

“I don’t know,” replied Mermista. “We were passing by the room when we saw it.”

“Wait, we saw you run out of here two minutes ago,” Frosta accused.

“Uh, what are you talking about?” the mer-woman asked. “I was with Perfuma.

“Could the storm have done something to cause this?” Perfuma suggested.

Glimmer then glanced down at a broke tracker pad on the floor in a puddle of water. “This wasn’t an accident. It was sabotage.”

As it began to rain outside, all the members met once again in the chamber sized living room. Everyone remained seated in the same positions as before, but with Glimmer standing by the fire again.

“The General is working on restoring communications. In the meantime, there’s a backup device in the dining room, should we need it.”

Mermista closed the doors. “All of us knew we were trying to unmask the spy. And we were the ones who made the plan to take back Dryl. We’ve ruled out all other suspects. Which means the only person the spy could be is one of us.”

Perfuma gasped.

Frosta stood up on her chair. “Perfuma let the Horde take the doors.”

“I wasn’t there,” she argued. “Wait, your team was the one who told us to come in, and you led Mermista way.”

“I did not,” Frosta snapped.

“Trying to throw the blame on someone else, huh, Frosta?”

Frosta pointed at Mermista. “If Mermista knows so much about mysteries, she’d probably know how to plan the perfect crime.”

“And there was water by the tracker pad,” Perfuma mentioned, glaring at Mermista.

“Water that could’ve been melted ice,” Mermista replied, pointing at Frosta.

Bow cried again. “It’s probably me.”

“It’s not you, Bow!” Frosta shouted.

Mermista countered, “Or maybe it is, like in Mer-Mystery: Salt-er Ego.”

“It couldn’t be me. I was busy fighting at least 200 soldiers,” Sea Hawk bragged.

“This is a waste of time, Glimmer,” said Adora. “Shouldn’t we be…”

“Stop. Stop questioning my choices, stop whining about being a decoy, just stop. Okay?”

“I’m not whining,” said Adora. Sea Hawk did squats on the table.

“All you do is question me, question my authority. It’s exhausting.”

Sea Hawk shouted and buried his head in his hands. “Okay, I lied. I didn’t fight 300 soldiers. Mermista, will you ever forgive me?”

“Sea Hawk, we all knew that,” Mermista deadpanned.

“I don’t know who to believe anymore,” said Bow. “I can’t trust my own eyes. Who am I?”

“Look at what she’s doing to you,” Adora argued. “Shadow Weaver wants power and you are listening to her.”

“Oh what? Are you jealous because you aren’t Shadow Weaver’s favorite anymore? Or are you just mad that I’m queen and in charge and you’re not?”

“That’s ridiculous,” Adora said.

Glimmer wasn’t done. “You just run around playing the perfect hero. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me.”

“Because you stopped including me in your decisions. We used to be a team. And now? I don’t know what we are.”

Flutterina had disappeared and quietly opened the door to the darkened dining room. Flutterina crouched down.

“Come on, backup communicator, where are you?”

The lights turned on and Flutterina gasped.

“Hey, Flutterina,” said Glimmer. “Looking for something?” Glimmer and Adora stood, triumphant.

“Glimmer? Heh. Adora. Hi, hi. Uh, just looking for the bathroom.”

Flutterina ran into Bow who stood with Frosta, Perfuma, and Mermista, all grinning.

Flutterina backed up on the floor. “Okay. Okay. This looks bad, but it isn’t what it looks like. So let’s all just…”

Flutterina kicked Adora in the foot and ran off. Adora grabbed onto it in pain and fell down. The spy grinned and ran toward the door…only to be blocked by a force of magic. The spy stood trapped, standing on a glowing light blue circle.

“Oh,” they said with a laugh, touching the force field around them. “I see.”

Glimmer stepped forward, having cast the spell. “Give it up, Flutterina. If that’s really who you are.”

“Magic. How very clever,” remarked the trickster.

“Isn’t it? Shadow Weaver helped,” said Adora.

“You see…” Glimmer began, but both girls were shoved aside by an excited Mermista. “The reveal of how they caught the murderer is my favorite part.”

Glimmer sighed.

“In order to catch a rat, you need to spring a trap,” recounted Adora. “So we set up one of our own.”

“Classic murder mystery move,” added Mermista.

Perfuma spoke, “There’s no murder…never mind.”

Glimmer began, “We knew a backup communication device would be irresistible to whoever destroyed the original.”

Adora added, “We wanted the spy to feel safe enough to make a move, so we created a diversion.”

“Adora managed to be a really good actress for once,” said Glimmer.

“It was really hard. Do not ask me to do that again,” she said.

“So that brings us back to you,” stated Glimmer, walking over. “Who are you really, Flutterina?”

The shapeshifter transformed into Glimmer, causing the queen to yelp and step back. They then transformed into Bow, Frosta, Perfuma, Mermista, and Adora.

“Please…” they said as they transformed into their true form. “Call me Double Trouble.”

“You’re a shape-shifter?” asked Adora in shock.

Bow gasped. “It wasn’t my goggles glitching. It was you pretending to be Frosta at Dryl!”

“And Perfuma said Double Trouble. “Don’t shortchange my credits, darling.”

They gave a bow and moved their tongue over their eyelid, making everyone gasp in disgust.

They continued. “May I say, as one actor to another, that was truly a masterful performance. I really bought that you two were furious at each other. If you would indulge me, were you inspired from any real emotion or experience?”

Glimmer glared. “Enough. It’s over, Double Trouble. Now tell us what the Horde is planning.”

Double Trouble laughed. “Over? Oh, love, it’s just beginning. The Horde has been planning a massive attack for some time now. I let Catra know that you were going to Dryl. After that, all I had to do was plant seeds of doubt. Sowing chaos where I could.”

Double Trouble has disguised themselves as Frosta, Perfuma, and Mermista, luring the group away. They also smashed the holographic map with a hunk of metal and broke the tracker pad when no one was looking.

“It wasn’t hard. I just had to keep you isolated and at each other’s throats until the plan was underway. Salineas. If the Horde controls the seas, they control Etheria.”

Mermista looked downcast and twiddled her dark blue braid.

“That will never happen. We won’t let it,” Glimmer claimed. “Now that we know their plan, we can stop it.”

Double Trouble laughed again. “No. Stop it? Oh, this was a ruse, darling. A distraction. The Battle of Salineas is over. It happened earlier this very evening. It’s too late. Salineas is gone.”

“No,” breathed Mermista.

“No!” cried Glimmer. “No, it’s not too late. It can’t be.”

In desperation, Glimmer teleported her friends over to Salineas. Glimmer raced up the hill, spotting a bright red Horde flag waving in the wind, the black symbol on it. To everyone’s horror, the magical gate was broken and filled with gaping red holes like wounds. Horde flags stood guard at every corner. Black smoke rose up into the blood red sky. A lone doll was floating in the water.

Mermista sunk down to her knees and sobbed.

“We can fix this,” Adora assured. “We have to be able to fix this, right?”

“This won’t happen again,” said Glimmer, tears in her eyes. “I won’t let it. We won’t give up. We will take back Salineas. Take back all of Etheria. No matter what it costs. No matter what the Horde throws at us next.”

Hordak and Catra smiled at their victory, while out in space, Horde Prime grinned sinisterly.

Frosta watched the simulation of the planet blowing up in boredom, sitting at the holographic map table.

“So how do we stop it?” Frosta asked.

Frosta yawned. She closed her eyes and accidentally banged her head on the table startling herself awake.

“Maybe we should continue this in the morning? Not that I’m up past my bedtime. I don’t have a bedtime. I can go to bed whenever I want.”

Frosta rubbed her eyes when she saw Scorpia sitting on Emily.

“Horde soldier!” yelled Frosta as all the princesses got ready to attack.

Frosta jumped into the air. “You ruined Princess Prom!” she shouted, landing on the ground with an ice fist, where Scorpia had been standing a moment earlier.

Frosta sent out a sheet of ice, causing Emily and Scorpia to slip and fall to the outside.

Scorpia was tied up and she told her story.

Frosta led Scorpia to a comfortable spare room with her ice spear.

“Hang on. I get to stay here?” Scorpia asked.

“This is the only other spare room we have. But don’t go thinking it’s a sleepover. We’re guarding you.”

Frosta later asked, “How strong are your pincers? Can you crush things or just cut?”

“Oh you know, they’re good for general pinching. And cutting through basically everything.”

“Really?” Frosta asked, excited. “I gotta try that.” She created ice claws from her hands.

“Oh, are you…are you crying? Is it because I made ice pincers? I’m sorry. That’s your thing. I get it.”

“No it’s not that,” said a sad Scorpia. “The Horde always told me I was different, that I wouldn’t fit in with you all. But you’re making me feel like the opposite of not belonging, which I guess is belonging?”

“I used to feel that way too,” Frosta explained. “And then I met Glimmer and the others and I realized that none of us fit in. We’re all different, but that’s okay.”

“That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” said Scorpia.

“Well don’t get used to it,” Frosta said, serious again. “You’re still our prisoner.”

She created her ice spear and walked off, but then stopped.

“But I’ve got first watch, so I’ll be up if you wanna talk more.”

Scorpia smiled.

Later, Bow and Adora snuck out of the castle.

Frosta opened the doors.

“What’s happening?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Uh…you’re asleep,” said Bow. “Yeah, you’re asleep. This is a dream. A dream.”

“Yes, the flying unicorn dream,” said Swift Wind. “Classic.”

“I know what you’re doing,” said Frosta. “And you better hurry.”

“You’re…you’re not gonna stop us?” asked Adora.

“I didn’t join the Princess Alliance just to fight. I joined to save people. And the Horde, even after everything they did…they’re people, just like us. I’ll cover for you, but you have to go now. Everyone will be up soon.”

Bow and Adora nodded in thanks, jumped onto Swift Wind and flew off.

Frosta looked on, hoping they would be alright.

Frosta became superpowered and fought with Perfuma against the Horde bots. Perfuma glowed green, Frosta glowed blue, each shooting out plants and ice respectively.

Frosta, Perfuma, and Scorpia yelled in pain as their powers were used. They huddled together until the pain was over. Frosta was last seen with Perfuma, looking at the sky, now filled with stars.

Season 5

Episode 1: Horde Prime

Horde Prime’s spear shaped ships hovered around Etheria. One of their massive vertical white ships landed on the ground, crushing trees underneath. The double doors opened and an army of white robots with laser guns marched down the walkway and through the grass. White small drones flew overhead. They scanned the forest, emitting beams of green light.

Two Etherians huddled together; a young white skinned boy with curly brown-red hair and a winged dark skinned woman with yellow clothing and short green hair. They saw the ships and started to run, only to be surrounded by several more. Green light shone onto them.

“For Etheria!”

Adora jumped into the air and smashed a drone with her long stick. She smashed the drone with her stick before it could fly away. The Etherians smiled before gasping again. Another oncoming drone was shot by Bow’s arrow.

Bow smiled and stepped on the fallen drone.

“Two down!”

Swift Wind kicked another drone with his hooves, sending it crashing to the ground.

“And a whole Galactic Horde to go!” Swift Wind called.

Perfuma trapped another drone with thick green plant vines. Frosta hit the drone with her ice fists.

“I’ll get the next one, I guess,” Mermista mentioned.

Swift Wind landed.

“It’s okay, you can come out now,” Adora called.

More Etherians emerged from the woods. Bow and Perfuma helped them across a log bridge while Frosta stood guard with her ice fists at the ready.

Frosta’s advisors and loved ones had warned her to be careful during the battle. Some didn’t even want Frosta to go out and risk endangering herself. But Frosta had to help her friends.

Adora smiled at an Etherian before gazing up at the looming spire space ship.

A random green laser shot through the air.

“Run!” Adora shouted.

Three white robots burst through a tree which exploded. Perfuma retracted the vine bridge.

Mermista grinned and got into position. “My turn.”

She summoned a large wave and knocked the robots down.

Bow called out to them, “Come on, let’s go before they…”

Adora shouted and dashed forward.

“Adora!” Bow yelled. Frosta stood with her ice fists. What was going on with her?

Adora leapt and kicked a white bot in the chest. Her staff and the robot’s arm sword clashed. The robot pointed its gun at her and narrowly missed. The robot soon fizzled and exploded after Adora moved out of the way.

But more robots and drones were coming.

Adora grinned and raised her staff. “For the honor of…uh…”

She stared in shock as she couldn’t transform into She-Ra.

A robot shot a blast that missed, then clutched her staff with both arms, throwing her hard into a tree.

Bow shot another drone before looking over.

“Adora!”

“I’m okay, I’m okay. Ow.” She winced as the bot walked closer.

Mermista blasted the robot away with water. She rushed over to her.

“Adora, chill. You’re not She-Ra anymore, remember?”

Adora spotted another bot, stood up and left. “I’m on it!”

“Ugh! I just said…” Mermista groaned.

“Gotcha.” Adora slid on the ground, using her legs to trip another robot. She yelled and broke the robot’s visor.

The Rebellion headed back to camp, which was protected with magic overhead in white and pink bands.

Bow and Entrapta were discussing plans at a table. Both were typing into hand held devices. Entrapta had on her bug shaped purple mask.

“Adora, did you get any sleep?” Bow asked.

Entrapta lifted her mask.

Ignoring the question Adora asked, “Have you finished the updates to Mara’s ship yet? How soon can we take off to rescue Glimmer?”

Bow spoke, “It’s a little more complicated since…”

“Space!” Entrapta exclaimed dlightfully. She took Bow’s device with her light purple hair. She twirled around and tapped the screen with her hair tendrils. She used her hair as a chair. “Sorry, I’m just so excited. In order to achieve maximum velocity for lift-off, the repairs and upgrades to the shields, the engines, and the life support should take us approximately…oh. A very long time.”

“We don’t have time,” Adora stated. “Glimmer’s up there, somewhere, waiting for us. We just have to figure out where.”

Bow placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find her. I know we will.”

Entrapta popped up. “This isn’t just a little update. Space has a lot more dangers and variables, crushing pressure, freezing temperatures, vaporization.” She moved sideways, shivered and waved her hair in dramatization for each one. “All it takes is one little hull breach and then, whoosh! That’s it.”

The purple screen icon showed hovering figures with xs for eyes.

Entrapta continued. “Besides, there’s no telling where Glimmer could be. Space is always expanding, always getting bigger and bigger.”

She let out a laugh, which unnerved Bow and Adora.

Entrapta stood up. “But don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll determine her precise location soon.”

Adora sat on the bench and pinched her nose in frustration before going inside another tent. Shadow Weaver, Frosta, Micah, Perfuma, Mermista, and a guard were there. A map of the land showed red icons for Horde Prime’s territories.

“Are you kidding me?” Frosta asked in disbelief.

“The sorcerer’s spells will keep us hidden only for so long,” said Shadow Weaver. “Then what? This is the only way. Your daughter understood well enough.”

She jabbed at Micah who shoved her hand aside. “You don’t talk to me about my daughter.”

“She would never have us abandon Bright Moon,” said Shadow Weaver.

“We couldn’t hold Bright Moon with the Galactic Horde attacking us form overhead. We need cover,” stated Micah.

“Which is precisely why we should use the Heart of Etheria,” Shadow Weaver stated.

Everybody groaned.

“Come on!” Frosta yelled.

“I can’t. I just can’t,” said Perfuma.

Mermista looked at her, annoyed. “Okay, so we’re not doing that, because A, without Glimmer and, most importantly, without She-Ra, the Heart of Etheria won’t work. And B when it did “work,” it nearly destroyed everyone. So, no thanks.”

Frosta crossed her arms. “Oh and also, C, we don’t like you and we don’t want your help.”

“Also, D, are you still our prisoner?” Perfuma asked. “Could we get a rundown of who is and who is not our prisoner anymore?”

Adora walked up front. “Arguing is not going to help us. We need information on Horde Prime to find Glimmer. And we won’t get any of that sitting around here.”

“Adora’s right,” said Micah. “The best thing we can do now is focus on evacuations, scouting missions, and keeping everyone safe until we can learn more of Horde Prime’s plans. Our scouts report that another one of his spires has been spotted near Thaymor.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Didn’t we just save Thaymor?” Mermista asked.

“No, you’re thinking Elberon,” said Frosta.

Mermista flopped back into a sofa. “Ugh. Can everywhere stop getting invaded for like, five seconds?”

“I’ll do it. I’ll bring them back here,” Adora called.

“Alone?” Perfuma asked, placing her hand son her shoulders. “Adora, you really ought to bring backup. You’re not you know who anymore.”

“Fine. I’ll take a team,” said Adora.

The group began to leave.

“I still believe in you, Adora,” said Micah. “You saved me and I know you’re gonna save my little girl.”

“I promise I’ll find Glimmer, Your Majesty. Wherever she is, we’ll get her back.”

Adora sighed and followed everyone out.

Swift Wind flew overhead and scouted the area. More woodland creatures with human appearances walked down the path.

Swift Wind landed by Scorpia.

“No bots in sight. I don’t wanna jinx it or anything, but this is a pretty great first mission together.”

Scorpia smiled. “I am so happy you said that, ‘cause I feel the same way. We’re kind of a great team. Between your hooves…”

“And your pinchers…” he added.

“And our positive attitude, nothing can get in our way.”

Swift Wind laughed. “Oh, uh, just so you know, I have been known to sing from time to time.”

Scorpia’s eyes lit up. “What? I love singing. Catra always said it was annoying. Man you guys are the best.”

“That’s the last of them. No bots, no drones, we’re all clear,” said Bow.

A young dark faun dropped a She-Ra doll.

“Wait!” called Adora. She picked it up and handed it to her. “Here you go.” The girl’s eyes shone in thanks.

Bow’s device suddenly beeped.

“Uh oh,” said Swift Wind. “Beeps and that look are never a good combination.”

Bow put on goggles and looked ahead. He spotted three clones. “We’ve got trouble.”

Bow, Scorpia and Swift Wind ducked behind a rock.

Swift Wind whispered, “Is that Hordak? Three Hordaks?”

“That’s not Hordak,” said Bow.

Scorpia put the goggles on and gasped. “Clones.”

“We need to get out of here,” said Bow.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” said Adora as she shouted and charged at them.

“Wait! Adora!” shouted Bow.

Scorpia raced after her and stung her in the back. Then the group ran as fast as they could.

Adora hung upside down then opened her eyes.

“No!” she gasped.

Swift Wind laughed. “You’re awake! Hello, Adora.”

“What happened?” she groaned.

She fell to the ground. “Where are those clones? Did we get them?”

“Okay, um, don’t get mad, but I may have had to sting you,” said Scorpia. “Just a little.”

“What?”

“You were refusing to retreat, and we really, really needed to run away.”

“Space clones!” exclaimed Swift Wind.

“You stung me?”

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” Scorpia said. “But I don’t regret it, and will do it again if needed. Mm. Sorry again.”

“Adora, you can’t run into battle like that,” scolded Bow. “Not anymore. You have to stop acting like your invincible. You aren’t…”

“You don’t need to say it,” Adora muttered. “I know. I made that choice, I’m living with the consequences.”

“What were you trying to do?”

“Maybe I could get those clones to tell us where Glimmer is being held. Then at least I’d be one step closer to saving her.”

“That’s…not a bad idea,” Bow remarked.

“Wait, what?”

“Trying to fight a group of clones by yourself is reckless. Catching and questioning one clone is also reckless, but this time we do it together.”

After they interrogated the clone, a pink moon of magic appeared in the air.

“That’s from Micah! They’re in trouble!” said Bow. The group rushed off to camp sliding down a steep rocky hill.

Back at camp, Mermista and Frosta were busy fighting off Horde Prime’s forces. Mermista summoned water from barrels and Frosta slide on an ice wall. She froze some bots then stabbed other bots with icicles in midair. Perfuma smashed more bots with a large vine. Behind her, Micah, Shadow Weaver and some guards were running off.

Entrapta bent down to pick up scraps of metal.

“This is amazing! Alien tech from a distant world.”

Micah used a sphere of purple magic in a sigil shape to make an overhead bot explode. He conjured a shield to protect Entrapta as smoke clouded the area. A robot raised a spear arm.

“Micah!” gasped Shadow Weaver. She threw a grenade at the robot, which exploded and fell.

Miah scoffed in thought before he and Entrapta left.

“You’re welcome,” Shadow Weaver said in frustration.

More bots closed in.

Scorpia blasted them down with red electricity from her claw.

“This way. Excuse me, pardon me,” she said as she ran forward. “Hi. Hello. How are you? Watch out there.” Micah picked up Entrapta before she could look at more scraps.

“Come on,” said Bow. “Adora, wait!”

“I can do this,” she said as she rushed forward.

The rebels were struggling as more bots arrived.

Scorpia rescued Adora as she struck down more bots surrounding Adora.

“Adora, are you okay?” Bow asked.

“No. You were right, Bow. I can’t fight them all. I’m not strong enough, I’m not She-Ra. I’m not a hero anymore, I’m just me. And I can’t do this alone.”

“But Adora, you aren’t alone. You’ve never been. We’ve got this. Together.”

“Together,” Adora said. They clasped hands then ran into the battle.

Mermista send up pillars of water while Scorpia punched a bot to the ground. Frosta punched a bot with her ice fists while Perfuma summoned her plants.

“Scorpia! Coming at you,” Adora called as she swiped a bot with her staff. Scorpia shocked the bot with a blast.

“Bow! The drone!” Adora called.

“Got it,” said Bow as he notched an arrow and fired.

Mermista swept several bots aside with water.

Frosta shot ice at bots and three inched closer.

“Frosta, ice catapult,” Adora ran with her staff out. Frosta ran to her, launched herself off the stick and rammed into the bots.

“We can’t stay here. It isn’t safe anymore,” said Adora.

“We’re kind of running out of places to hide,” said Bow, with a look of worry.

Adora gasped as visions of the Whispering Woods entered her mind. “I think I know where we can go.”

More bots and drones rushed forward.

“And we better hurry. Come on.”

Adora led the way into the woods.

“Adora, were are we going?” Bow asked. Bow was followed by Mermista, Frosta, Perfuma, Micah.

“It’s around here somewhere. A place where we’ll be safe. Madame Razz brought me there, and I saw it again in my dreams. I just have to hope it lets us in.”

Adora spotted a light between two trunks.

“There.” She pulled it and the trees parted.

The nine members breathed in awe.

The area was surrounded by sparks and spirals of magic. The sparks danced through the air like fireflies as crystals stood out in random places.

“Whoa,” Adora breathed as she ran to the center.

“Wow,” said Scorpia as the others admired the area. A few three-eyed teal colored deer peered out to see the visitors.

Frosta admired the scene as well, her hair short and blue. She wished her parents could see a beautiful place like this. She knew that they would be proud of her, how fast she was growing up…not that she had much of a choice in the matter. The battles were constant, always filling her up with adrenaline and energy. She fought tough and acted tough in order to be taken seriously.

Frosta imagined a future where everyone was older. She would be ruling her kingdom as a teenager, winning every boxing match in her spare time. Entrapta would make inventions with Hordak and they would fly to distant worlds. Mermista and Sea Hawk would be up to their sailing adventures and hopefully not setting more boats on fire. Adora and Catra would laugh and spend time together. Glimmer and Bow would be together as well, perhaps getting ready for Scorpia’s ball at BrightMoon.

Adora and Catra…

Bow and Glimmer…

Netossa and Spinnerella…

Scorpia and Perfuma…

Mermista and Sea Hawk…

Entrapta and Hordak…

Frosta felt like she was the only one would won’t get into some kind of relationship in the future. But at least she would have Glimmer and all her friends around.

“Where are we?” Micah asked.

Adora smiled. “The deepest part of the Whispering Woods. Horde Prime won’t find us here. We’re safe. Now we just need to set up camp and…”

Adora grunted and clutched her head, sinking to her knees. “Adora!” cried Bow. “Adora!”

The visions of She-Ra flashed in her head: her sword shattering after stopping Light Hope, the Fright Zone, Etheria in space, She-Ra in her golden form…just out of Adora’s reach…

Episode 2: Launch

Frosta and the others listened to Horde prime’s message.

Frosta came into the room and saw Adora lying down.

“Is he dead?” Frosta asked in shock.

“What? No,” said Bow.

“Okay, good, ‘cause Adora does the planning, and we’re wondering if there’s a plan…”

Bow held up his hands. “Look, the upgrades to Mara’s ship are done, but we can’t go anywhere until Adora’s back on her feet.”

He turned back to Adora. “So go to sleep and everyone will…”

Swift Wind cut a hole in the tent with his horn. “Did someone say “Swift Wind?!”

Bow covered the horse’s mouth just as Micah came in.

“Is Adora feeling better? Did you tell her Horde Prime’s message? Does she know he’s looking for her?”

“What?” Adora sat up.

“Okay, that’s enough,” said Bow. “Adora, rest! Swift Wind, head!”

Swift Wind pushed Adora back down gently.

“Everyone, shh!” said Bow.

“She will be fine soon, right?” Frosta asked.

“Yes. She just needs sleep,” Bow mentioned.

Frosta, Micah and Swift Wind left.

Entrapta appeared in the tent.

“Adora sick log, day three.” She spoke into her recorder.

“Nope!” said Bow and pushed her out.

Entrapta wailed. “Wait! But it’s for science!”

Mermista, Perfuma, Frosta, Scorpia and Emily sat by a fire outside.

“Look we have to do something,” said Mermista. “We don’t know when Adora is gonna get better, and even when she does, we have no plan for how to get Glimmer back. We know she’s on Horde Prime’s ship, but we don’t know where that is, like, in space.”

Perfuma spoke, “Well, then it’s up to us to make a plan to find Glimmer. With these.”

She held figures of Bow and Adora in her hand.

Frosta stood on a log. “We don’t need dolls. We just need these!” She made ice fists.

“What are you gonna do with those?” Mermista asked.

“Punch Horde Prime,” Frosta grinned.

Perfuma cleared her throat. “Perhaps if we meditate we can access our princess connection to find Glimmer’s spirit out in space.”

Entrapta walked over. “Hello. Oh hi. Were you guys talking about space?”

The group looked down and were silent.

Perfuma spoke. “Yes. We were talking about how to get Glimmer back from spa…”

Entrapta leaned in. “I’d do anything to go to space. An infinite universe of information at our fingertips, full of countless planets and stars and civilizations…”

Mermista covered Entrapta’s mouth.

“This isn’t like a fun field trip for you to run more of your messed up experiments. Our friend’s out there, remember?”

Entrapta smiled.

“Glimmer?” Mermista prodded.

Entrapta stared blankly.

Mermista groaned in frustration. “The sparkly one?”

“You’ve met her multiple times,” Frosta added.

“Oh, right,” Entrapta said, as Mermista facepalmed.

Scorpia had an idea. “Wow…hey Entrapta. Look over there! Is that a robot?”

“A robot? Where?” She ran off with a crash.

Scorpia spoke, “Look, I know that she can be kind of, “Whoa, science!”” She mimicked explosions and laughed. “But I promise, Entrapta has a good heart.”

Mermista crossed her arms. “She’s betrayed us before. For all we know, as soon as she sees Horde Prime’s ship up close, she’ll ditch us to join his army.”

“She did use her inventions to attack us a lot,” Perfuma added, in worry.

“I’m just saying,” said Scorpia, “none of us know how to track a spaceship, but Entrapta might. If you just give her a chance.”

Entrapta was on the top of a tent. After looking at Scorpia’s pleading look, Mermista sighed. “Fine.” They walked over to her.

“Okay, Geek Princess,” said Mermista, “are you gonna help us or not?”

Entrapta stared.

Mermista groaned. “If you help us find Glimmer, you can go to space.”

“Great!” she cried, sliding next to Mermista.

The five princesses huddled behind a bush, Frosta holding two green leaves for cover. Entrapta held a device and a metal U shaped antenna connected by a wire. The sky was full of stars. The tall spire was surrounded by flying drones and guards.

“The message from Horde Prime was transmitted through that spire,” stated Entrapta. “Which means it’s got a wavelength connecting it to his main base of operation, one that we can track.”

“Great. So track it,” Mermista deadpanned.

“Well, hypothetically we can track it. Horde Prime’s astral communication network is incredibly complex, and I’ve only been able to intercept parts. I’d need to gain as much proximity as possible to the receptor before I can triangulate their origin.”

The others were confused.

“I need to get close to the spire to track the signal.”

Everyone said “Got it.”

“If we follow that signal, we’ll find a ship of impossibly sophisticated design, the center of a super technologically advanced empire…”

“I think mostly we’re just hoping to find our kidnapped friend,” Perfuma replied.

“That spire is crawling with surveillance bots,” said Mermista.”We need to find a way to sneak past them, so we can get Geek Princess close enough to track the signal.”

“So what’s the plan?” Scorpia asked.

“Uh…that’s the whole plan. We sneak past the surveillance bots.” She groaned. “I don’t know. Adora usually handles the being in charge stuff.”

Persuma spoke next. “Okay, we sneak past the bots, and then if any of them see us, we…”

“Punch the bots!” Frosta made ice fists.

“Sure, sounds like enough of a plan for me,” Mermista said. “And someone needs to keep an eye on…”

Entrapta hummed as she walked. Mermista turned back in anger.

“What? Did she seriously just immediately run off?” The group followed.

The group waited behind a boulder as a drone sped past. They followed Mermista after she raised a hand. Mermista, Frosta, Scorpia, Perfuma and Entrapta. Entrapta was dragged by Perfuma’s vine. The group ran to another rock.

“Well, no signal here. We need to get closer,” said Entrapta.

Mermista groaned. “I hate the desert.”

She looked toward the spire. “All clear. Let’s go.”

The group ran off but Entrapta skidded to a stop. “Wait, I think I’m getting something.” She tapped her device with her hair. Perfuma turned back to her as the others ran ahead.

“Entrapta, we really need to get out of the open,” Perfuma urged.

Entrapta dragged Perfuma along as she climbed onto a rock. “Hang on, I’ve almost got it. I need to get up higher.”

Entrapta climbed. “So close, almost got it.”

She reached the top of the rock, her hair wrapped around the top point and checked her device.

Her device buzzed.

“Nope. False alarm. We need to get closer.”

A whirring sound grew closer as a drone passed by.

Perfuma flung Entrapta off the rock where she landed on the ground with a thud. She grabbed her and both pressed their backs against the rock wall. Perfuma held a hand over Entrapta’s mouth as the drone scanned the area. The drone beeped and flew off.

Perfuma whispered, “What do we do?”

Mermista, Scorpia and Frosta stood near several rocks.

Mermista held out her arm and with her other hand, made a walking motion with her fingers. She then moved both her arms, her hand sin fists in a running motion.

“I should run?” Perfuma asked.

Frosta sighed, head lowered. Mermista made full body jogging movements.

“Don’t run? Do run?”

Mermista circles her palms in the air.

“What?”

Mermista pointed and whispered, “Entrapta.”

Perfuma looked at her vine, which was empty at the end. She gasped in shock and looked around.

Entrapta was wandering around, looking at her device in thought.

Worst of all, she was walking right into the green scanner beams.

Mernista and Frosta ducked as Scorpia shot electricity that broke off a top part of a rock with an explosion. The drone flew off in distraction.

The group sighed in relief before Scorpia let out a scream.

Entrapta bumped into a tall white robot and fell down backwards.

Entrapta smirked as the robot scanned her. “Oh hello,” she said suggestively. “You’re very technologically advanced.”

The robot pointed its gun at her. Entrapta screamed. “Bad robot!”

Frosta froze the robot in ice and it fell down backwards with a clank.

Frosta pulled her along. “Come on!”

The robot beeped inside the ice. The spire glowed with red dots as more drones flew out from it. Scorpia peered from behind a rock.

“What do we do?” she asked.

Mermista had her head in her hands. “I don’t know. This plan was obviously doomed from the start. I’m not Adora. Why did I think I could be the leader?”

Entrapta moved the antenna close. “Well, still nothing. This transmission pattern is fascinating. We should get closer.”

“We can’t,” said Mermista, shoving the metal antenna away and sending it clattering to the ground. “Thanks to you, this place is about to be swarming with bots. We have to retreat.” She groaned. “I should’ve known better than to trust you.”

A pang of hurt came over Entrapta as Mermista continued.

“You don’t care about Glimmer or any of us. You only care about tech.”

“Are you all mad at me?” she asked.

Mermista seethed. “You’re seriously just realizing that? Yeah, we’re mad.”

“You don’t consider how your actions affect other people,” Perfuma added. “People who are supposed to be your friends.”

“Like us,” Frosta chimed in. “The ones who were getting beat up by your dumb bots. And whose kingdoms you almost destroyed!” Frosta had tears in her eyes.

Entrapta lowered her head. “I’m not good at people, but I am good at tech. I thought maybe if I could use tech to help you, you’d like me. But I messed that up, too.”

Entrapta ran off.

“Entrapta, no!” yelled Mermista as she ran after her.

Mermista grabbed her purple hair which made Entrapta scream in pain.

“I said we have to leave! Can’t you listen for once in your life?”

“I’m sorry I’m bad at listening!” Entrapta yelled. “I’m sorry I mess everything up!” She held up her device and antenna. “But you need this signal and I’m gonna get it for you.”

Mermista let go. “You’re still trying to get the signal?”

“Of course,” Entrapta said, this time tears in her magenta eyes. “Glimmer needs us.”

They both looked up as more drones approached. White robots marched outside.

“Okay Geek Princess, get that signal. We’ll cover you.”

Entrapta smiled and ran ahead.

Mermista turned to her friends. “Frosta, Scorpia, on Entrapta! Perfuma, with me! Now!”

Perfuma followed Mermista and Scorpia and Frosta raced ahead.

Scorpia and Frosta grinned before Scorpia lifted Frosta into the air. She did several flips and shot ice from her hands, destroying four drones at the same time.

Entrapta launched herself forward and was soon right in front of the spire.

She stared in awe at the technological wonder.

“Oh…what’s inside you?”

She slapped herself with her hair. “Focus, Entrapta. Glimmer needs you.”

She rapidly typed into her device and held the antenna into the air.

Mermista used her trident to battle a robot. A blast narrowly missed them. Mermista’s trident and the robot’s sword arm clashed. Her trident caught the arm and forced it to the ground. But the robot pointed its gun…

Perfuma’s plant vine lifted the gun away from Mermista. The plant vine wrapped around the robot before Mermista struck the bot in its metal head with her trident.

More bots stood in a doorway.

“Perfuma, cut off that spire.”

Perfuma yelled and plant vines rapidly grew in the doorway, blocking off the robots.

“Nice job,” said Mermista.

“Thanks,” Perfuma said. “I wish there was water here for you though.”

Mermista ducked in shock as a drone sped nearby. She looked down at the ground. “But there is.”

Old thick pipes ran along the ground.

“If there’s one thing I know in the Fright Zone, it’s the sewer system.”

She held out her arms and yelled. The pipes soon broke and sludge flowed out and blasted drones away. Scorpia and Frosta huddled for cover on the ground.

Scorpia made a face. “Oh, wow, that smells…” she gagged.

Frosta cheered. “That was so gross!”

The group ran over to Entrapta.

“Almost. Got it! Okay, good news and bad news. The good news, I’ve successfully triangulated Horde Prime’s flagship.”

“Hooray!” cheered Scorpia.

“Bad news, I intercepted the last message he sent. He’s sending reinforcement ships to Etheria. They’ll be here any minute.”

Scorpia lowered her arm. “I take back my “horray.”

The group rushed toward Mara’s ship.

“We’re exposed here,” Micah said. “We need to make these goodbyes quick.”

“We’ll be back as soon as we can” said Adora to Mermista. She gave her a hug. “The Rebellion is in good hands.”

“Yeah, as it turns out, I’m an awesome leader, so we’re gonna be fine,” Mermista said with a blush. And Entrapta helped.” She pulled her in, and whispered to her, “You’re still a weirdo, but you did good today. We’ve got your back any time.”

Perfuma, Frosta, and Scorpia nodded with smiles. Entrapta smiled as tears came from her eyes. The group sobbed and embraced in a large group hug.

Swift Wind pulled Adora to the side, grabbing her collar with his mouth. They stood facing each other. “Adora, I...I’m not going to…Oh! I don’t know how to say this.”

“You’re staying here,” said Adora.

“I don’t belong on a ship,” Swift Wind agreed. “I belong on Etheria, protecting it. And with you gone, someone’s gotta bring the gorgeous flowing hair. “He laughed then broke into sobs. “I hope you’re not disappointed in me.”

Adora held his nose and chin with her hands. “Are you kidding? I’m proud. You’re exactly where you need to be. I’m not She-Ra anymore.”

“But I’ll always be your loyal steed.”

Whirring sounds buzzed from ahead, as the drones approached.

“Surveillance bots. If they see the ship, they’ll alert the armada and stop us,” Frosta warned.

“What are we gonna do?” Scorpia asked. “Are we gonna stay here?”

“No,” said Micah. “We’re getting this ship off Etheria no matter what. I’ve got an idea.”

The row of bots fired their laser guns. She Ra and Swift Wind did a pose, then blasted the bots to the ground with a blast of magic.

“You want She-Ra? Come and get her!” Frosta slammed her fists to the ground, ice spreading along the ground. The bots were frozen in an ice wall.

More bots appeared, weapons raised.

“What do you think, Micah?” Mermista asked. “Have we wasted enough of their time?”

Micha removed his facial disguise. “Get my good side.”

Micah shot a circle of magic that blasted several bots away. Perfuma and Mermista lifted other bots in a wave of water and vines. Scorpia and Frosta punched the robots at every moment.

An engine roared and the group looked up to see the ship blasting off safely.

Everyone cheered and raised their arms.

“Whoo!”

“Yes! Yes!” cheered Frosta. “Go get our girl! Go, Adora! Go go go! Go save my best friend!”

“Hooray!” said Scorpia. “I reinstate my hooray!”

“You okay?” Swift Wind asked Micah when he transformed back into his regular outfit. “I know you wanted to go.”

“But If I hadn’t stayed, they wouldn’t have been able to take off at all. I trust my daughter’s friends. They saved me. Now they’ll save her.”

Micah looked up hopefully at a pink sky. “See you soon, baby girl.”

Episode 6: Taking Control

Frosta thinks that Micah sees her as a little kid and doesn’t like it. Micah tries to relate to her. Frosta saves the group by forming an ice shield when they’re attacked by brainwashed Etherians.

Episode 9: An Ill Wind

Frosta happily reunites with Glimmer, and they hug. Frosta punches Catra before Adora says she’s on their side.

Episode 11: Failsafe

Netossa tells Frosta’s weakness is fire.

Episode 12 and 13: The Heart

Frosta helps the team defeat the Horde bots and free the others. Frosta rides n Scorpia’s back as she celebrates their victory. Perfuma, Adora, Scorpia and Frosta embrace in a princess hug and laugh.

#frosta #She Ra

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