#what i would give for a big flappy cloak

[activate-shadow-of-the-window]

Scribbbbbbbbbly witchy little Impulse and Etho because I got bit by the character redesign bug

[lanternlightss]

Venti or collector hcs gimme

Any kind welcome but perhaps silly ones I could doodle 👀

them them them

(digs through hc folder) okay okay, so

(this got a little long 😭😭)

venti:

his wings? absolutely massive. it takes more than a few people to get all the stuff out of it. vennessa, dvalin, and andrius like to sit down and groom his wings (all in human form, don’t wanna pull a feather out via claws!) they’re one of the few people he trusts to do it.

venti practices puns on zhongli. he picked them up from a few past friends (ragnvindr and bard, sometimes vennessa.)

whenever he gets excited, venti likes to run up to people, give them a hug from behind, and spin them both in the air. he did this a lot with vennessa, and usually smacked his wings into something in the process XD.

wispti LOVES to be (gently) tossed around. you can catch the bard swinging venti around his fingers like a butterfly knife at any given moment.

when lost in thought, venti will braid anything that’s in front of him. he has accidentally somehow braided his lyre strings once.

adding on to that last one: venti loves to crochet/sew. he’s a little embarrassed by how many braided projects he has. the thousand winds like to use them as scarfs.

when he’s very, very relaxed and comfortable, venti will make sounds he used to do as wispti. this includes chirping, trilling, chiming, purring—anything!

venti has a silly nickname for all his children. he’s accidentally called jean, “little dandy lion,” to her face once. they have both silently agreed to never bring it up. (jean secretly wishes he would do it again.)

venti will steal your clothes. if you are friends, and he is comfortable with you, Your Clothes Are Being Yoinked. this has happened with many people, but the pipeline so far has been nb -> vennessa -> jean. (they’re who he does it most too. it’s not his fault they have good styles!)

slightly angsty, venti has the original nb cloak, and pulls it out and around himself whenever he feels down. if he pretends enough, the hands holding his face are the bard’s.

collector:

pat their head. they Will bonk into like a cat would.

oh they absolutely do the flappy sleeves. sometimes they like to pretend they’re an “airplane” or a “bird” or a “really big dinosaur that could swallow you in one bite!”

he has matching plushies with almost… all the main cast? his favorites are king, luz, raine, and amity. (though all of them are his favorites, those are the ones he carries around the most.)

luz gives them a good witch azura book. she has read all of them to him. they do re-enactments of scenes sometimes, with everyone.

thinking….. about collector trying to get along with hunter. every time they are trying so hard not to ask “how did it feel to grow out the ground like a plant?”

collector has called hunter a sprout before. he didn’t get it.

collector either does not like shadow puppets, or likes them a lot. however, he loves puppet shows. sometimes he makes his own “scenes” with the plushies of his friends.

they made a little diy green slime. no one says anything when he twists and mangles it into nothing before fixing it. it’s therapeutic for them.

they made hats for all his friends. you know the little hat they wear in canon? he made personalized ones for the main cast. they all have little “things” at the dangling bit of the top part (think jester hat). like, hunter’s has a red bird!

luz has taught them what an “oc” is. he is unstoppable. (all of the ones he makes are based on his friends.)

loves loves loves to talk about space!!!! they will literally spend weeks talking to you about it, please ask them about stars, or galaxies, or the beginning of time.

loves nicknames. “little star,” is one of their favorites so far.

a very, very good narrator! during their book clubs with luz, they will make an entire theatre to act out parts. they try to make it as interesting as possible without breaking anything.

will mash together the most godawful abomination of foods. pancakes + glittery glue + pepperoni + cake frosting is one of their go-to’s.

every time he interacts with someone physically, like a hug, they are so so careful with it that it feels like nothing at all. they kind of know their strength, but he did also. maybe. punched a rock thirty feet below ground.

absolutely fascinated with the smallest things. once spent an entire day staring at a lava lamp.

[gerbiloftriumph]

So you wanna be a king (pt2)

(or at least cosplay one.)

Continuing the cosplay creation saga for anyone interested, here’s how I put together my King Graham cosplay:

Part 2: Jerkin 

Disclaimer: I’m totally novice at cosplay and only do it for like one event per year if that, so take what you will or throw it all away.

Also this is not really a step by step tutorial post because this is several years ago and the details are hazy.

If you’re following along, then you should have a cloak and cowl (click for sort-of-instructions-here). 

Step one: Pull out those reference screencaps you made in the first part and stare at them. Repeat that you still love this character and that you’re committed to this nonsense. Ready? Let’s go.

The long sleeved purple undershirt I just happened to find at Goodwill. Please try to find something lightweight--this costume is warm. 

But you won’t be so lucky to find a jerkin at Goodwill too. You’ll have to make it, or at least modify something.

Still, it’s just an elaborate brown tank top, more or less. You don’t even have to worry about attaching sleeves! Surely this is an eas--wait, what are those lace things? Could you even bend down to pick up inventory items with laces that thick and close together? How can I translate that into something semi-practical I can wear without wanting to eat my adventuring hat? 

It’s a great design, but I’m mortal, not digital. If you can determine a simple way to get that lacing to look accurate while still being comfortably wearable, let me, novice cosplayer that I am, know. (maybe if they were just made separately, flat, and sewn on, like a decal thing?)

I had planned on building this out of fake leather/suede-ish material, but then I remembered I wanted to also wear this as my new RenFest costume, and I didn’t want to die in July. 

So I went to my local Joann’s and picked up a considerably lighter, thinner, and satisfactorily rich looking brown fabric (I think it was this stuff: https://www.joann.com/kona-cotton-solid-quilt-fabric/1378397.html) for both jerkin and bracers. I’ve lost the original receipt, so I’m not sure how much I bought. Too much, because my storage bin is full of leftovers. I’m sure 3 yards is more than plenty, but measure to be sure. 

Tunic time!

This is the point where the “How To Graham” tutorial breaks down and becomes especially fuzzy and experimental, because I kept none of my in-process notes. High five, Gerbil, very helpful indeed. You might just want to glance at this for ideas before doing your own thing. 

I laugh in the face of patterns, hahahaha. (bad idea, don’t be me.)

I got my favorite fitted t-shirt (Disney Afternoon ftw), paper, a ruler, and old scrap fabric to maul as practice. I pinned my shirt flat to paper and traced both the front and back separately (folded the sleeves in so my tracework was sleeveless). The front had a deeper neckline but was otherwise nearly identical to its back partner. Once both sides were traced, I added a half inch margin around them, cut them out, and started working on fake jerkins, so I could sculpt the right fit before I got out the nice fabric. I wanted the jerkin to be pretty form fitting as Graham’s is, so I curved the sides in a bit deeper. 

I made at least two fake jerkins, fyi.

Since I went pattern-less (hahahaarrgh), tests were crucial, especially regarding the neck hole. The t-shirt is elastic, but my fabric is not. I personally require at least 22″ around the neck to get the thing over my nose, and it’s barely enough clearance. (I’m fairly certain I measured some other shirts with my fabric ruler for a loose size to aim for, then did edits on the junk fabric til I had a size that worked.)

Tests also showed that the back piece needed an additional two and a half inches of fabric on the bottom thanks to how it sits on my shoulders. In the above image, you can see the green fabric is higher, but I wanted the piece to look balanced from the side. 

It’s a touch hard to see as it’s usually hidden by the cloak, but I find a balanced jerkin is a happy jerkin. 

And here’s that additional fabric without a human in it. (ack don’t look at my uneven stitches)

By now, you should have a belt (in my method it doesn’t matter how it clasps, so pick any belt you please as you’ll be wearing it backward) so you can determine how long the flappy things on the front and back should be. Where your belt sits comfortably is where your side laces will stop and your trim on the flap things will start--the belt hides the transition. 

Graham’s belt sits low on his (fantastically defined) hips. I prefer it on my waist so it doesn’t slide up when I’m walking, so my flap things are longer than his. For reference, my flap things...no, wait, there must be a technical term....Google says it’s a peplum. My peplum (??) are 8″ish long, though his look like they’re about half that. 

For reference, as a 5′6″ person, from hanger to hem my jerkin’s back piece is approximately 28″ long. The most important things here are how long it is overall, and if the neck hole is big enough to fit over your head: nearly everything else can be altered when wearing it via the lacework I have planned.

Look, at this point, you might want to give up on me and find a real shirt pattern, fitted or not. I understand. I’ll wait. This isn’t actually a step by step tutorial so much as a vague What I Did And It’s Probably Wrong. 

Okay, you’ve traced your favorite shirt (or bought a real pattern like a good person). Your tests have shown that your peplum sit at the same height on your leg, and you like the shape and feel of it when you wear your scrap fabric test (I recommend using safety pins to replicate the laces during the early size test phase). You’ve cut out the front and back shirt shaped pieces of brown fabric (with that half inch hem margin all around), and now they’re sitting on your floor, mocking you. 

The actual construction part!

The only attachment you’ll give these pieces is via the shoulders. If you’re new to this Making Your Own Clothes thing and your fabric has a nice side and a not nice side, put the nice sides against each other and sew along the not nice side so when you turn it over your hem is inside. 

I seam-ripped a collar from a shirt I loved but was too worn to wear otherwise--no math or sewing your own collar from scratch if you swipe it from another shirt. No one will ever see it since your cowl tucks into it, so it doesn’t matter how it looks, though natural colors are better than, say, blue, in case your cowl slips a bit. There are lots of lovely videos about attaching collars: this one seems nice, if you skip ahead to the actual sewing-on part at 4:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k31FWDp1s5I

At this point, since you’ve fitted it and trimmed it and done all that you want to it to get the shape you like, you’ll want to hem your shirt by that half inch margin all around so it’s clean and easy for the next part. It only looks vaguely shirt-like now since it’s held together just by the shoulders. 

Now, let’s get medieval on it. 

Time for lacing!

I used a blond suede leather rope to mimic the lighter color on Graham’s sides (check the beading or leather working section of the craft stores, and make sure it’s thick enough that it won’t snap under light strain, and thin enough it’ll fit through the grommet size you select). I already happened to own an anvil (...why?), so I just needed grommets. Mine appear to be 12mm--I got them in Ancient Copper. You’ll use them in the bracers later, too, so leftovers are a good thing for once. Hobby Lobby or Michaels can hook you up with supplies, but Etsy and eBay have more diverse color choices. 

Every inch from where the armpit opening stops to where the trim of the peplums begins (the height of which was established earlier when I decided to how to wear the belt), I made a mark for a grommet, and marked its corresponding partner. For reference, I have 9 holes down each hem, for 18 total holes per side, and a grand total 36 grommets in the tunic. I jammed an awl through the holes marked and applied the grommets as per the packet’s instruction. 

Like making a metal and fabric sandwich. With a hammer. 

It’s totally therapeutic. I can see why Amaya’s into this stuff. 

(It’s not a Looney Toons anvil, by the by: like this, instead.)

Unspool the suede rope and thread it through the grommets. To try and mimic the game, I use a ladder shoelace tie, starting with the grommet pair beneath the arms and running down until I tie a bow in the last pair. I tuck the loose ends into the waistband of the trousers. So, this: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ladderlacing.htm

Finally, I made (because I couldn’t find to buy) my own trim about 1/2″ wide from some scrap light brown suede in the Joann Scrap Bin, and attached it to the peplum (is this truly a better word than flap, vote now).

And that, friend, is a jerkin that would make any real medieval person flinch but should be cool for cosplay. You should try it with your cloak and cowl. If you’re following my method, you get to layer up, lucky you: anchor shirt, long-sleeved-purple-undershirt, jerkin, cloak (snaps through the jerkin’s collar onto the anchor shirt), cowl (to cover your shoulders so you don’t see the cloak tugging at your jerkin collar). 

Yeah, it’s warm. Sorry.

Drink some water.

When you’re done sweating in it (eww, I know it’s awful, sorry), handwash it. Strip the rope out of the grommets, use handwashing detergent in a (clean!) bathroom sink, then hang it over a bathtub to dry before relacing it using that ladder shoelace technique and storing it on a hanger. I always have it laced, and pull it on over my head with it laced, too.

And with that, you’ve got about half of your entire cosplay done. Congrats! Take some time to relaaaax. You’re gonna be a king. 

(is this helpful at all to anyone? should i keep going?)

(peplum?? really????)

[kathyprior4200]

Huntara: Warrior of Justice fanfic (in progress)

(1985) (From the Wiki GraySkull page)

Huntara is a member of the Silaxians, a group of skilled hunters, trappers, and warriors dedicated to fighting evil. Huntara was at first convinced by Hordak that She-Ra and the Rebellion were evil by showing her false videos. He sent her to fight and capture She-Ra after his minions had failed to do so. Huntara insisted that she fight She-Ra alone and later lured her into a trap by capturing Glimmer. She then told She-Ra to meet her at the Crimson Waste to fight, leaving a message with Garv the Innkeeper. She-Ra eventually won the long battle, disarming Huntara. Following the Silaxian code of honor, Huntara turned herself over to She-Ra as a slave, but She-Ra told her that she did not keep slaves. Eventually, Huntara realized that Hordak had deceived her. Though Huntara released Glimmer from prison, the three were knocked out and taken to the Fright Zone. While there, Hordak planned to throw her in the dungeon for failing to capture She-Ra. However, Huntara used her smoke bombs to escape and free She-Ra and Glimmer. The group soon fled the fortress. Huntara later boarded her space ship to fly home, saying that the next time they would meet, it would be as friends.

Originally, Huntara was also supposed to be in another episode called "The Silaxian Wars" but it never went into production.

Under a dark golden sky filled with smoke and pollution, a spidery array of metal made up what was known as the Fright Zone. Orange lava colored light glowed through several openings and the structure as a whole resembled a twisted factory of sorts. The bat symbol of the Horde was prominent against circular red light on the structure.

Inside the building, Lord Hordak had finished watching a holographic video of the recent battle on a screen. Beside Hordak in her usual scarlet cloak was the dark sorceress Shadow Weaver. Hordak’s tall metal throne turned around to face his minions, who were standing nervously at attention at the bottom of the stairs.

“Well,” he said, “You’ve all seen the hollowed out pictures of your pitiful attempts at taking She-Ra. What do you have to say for yourselves?”

A hairy gorilla-like minion by the name of Grizzlor stood in the back next to a reptile minion named Leech. Mantenna, a minion with an orange snake-like head with big flappy ears looked utterly terrified. Scorpia, a woman with pinchers for hands, short orange hair, a black outfit and a long scorpion tail, glared at him and he shrunk back in fear. Catra stood a fair distance away in her usual tattered red dress and cat shaped headpiece, her hair long and dark. All of them were wearing uniforms with the red bat symbol of the Horde on them.

Hordak was not pleased.

“What? Not one among you has an excuse?”

Just then, his small blue imp pet laughed. “What a bunch of wimps, huh boss?”

Catra growled with a meow in her voice. “I’d like to turn that imp into a door knocker.”

“I’d be glad to help you,” Scorpia added.

“Silence!” ordered Hordak. “Forged science and magic have turned you into the greatest force squad ever to destroy a planet…”

“The greatest!” Imp added, jumping into the air.

“…and yet, all of you together cannot beat a single woman.”

“Yeah, a single woman!” Imp mimicked, landing his blue fist down like Hordak did.

“You’re all fools!”

“Fools!”

“Dolts!”

“Dolts!”

Hordak didn’t seem to mind that Imp was repeating what he said.

In fact, Hordak praised the troublemaking creature next. “Why can’t you all be more like Imp here? He knows how to get a job done!”

Imp grinned with pride.

Leech and Grizzlor looked on with glares.

“Being more like him?” Leech asked through a series of slurps. “What a depressing thought.”

“Now, where was I?” Hordak asked to himself.

“I believe you were talking about dolts,” Shadow Weaver mentioned.

“Right, dolts!” Hordak exclaimed. “Thanks to your failures, Horde Prime is displeased. And I don’t like it when the ruler of Horde world is displeased. It’s time to bring in someone more competent. That’s why I contact the planet of Silax.”

“Silax?” Shadow Weaver asked in surprise. “That’s not part of the Horde Empire!”

“No,” Hordak replied. “In fact, they don’t really know much about us. But I know about them. Silaxians are the greatest warriors, hunters, and trappers in the universe, and I’ve sent for their very best to handle She-Ra for us.”

“When does this outsider arrive?” Catra asked suspiciously.

“Today. And if she succeeds, you’ll spend the rest of your time here cleaning garbage bins…with very tiny brushes!”

Hordak laughed evilly at the sight of Catra and Scorpia’s looks of horror and disgust.

 Meanwhile at the Rebellion camp, Adora and her friends were relaxing outside by a campfire.

“Ah, it’s been awfully quiet lately,” Bow mentioned, his hair orange and body muscular.

Kowl, an owl-like creature hovered nearby. “Yes. What’s wrong with that? I like things quiet and peaceful.”

Adora walked over, her hair thick and blonde. “So do I. But I get worried when the Horde isn’t trying to make our lives miserable.”

“Well I say let’s enjoy ourselves while we can,” said Kowl.

Adora paused in thought. “Maybe you’re right, Kowl. If the Horde is planning something, we’ll know soon enough.”

  Later on that day, a sleek slender spacecraft landed on a metal pod close to the building in the Fright Zone. Hordak and Shadow Weaver watched the ship land and the top window open.

“Now we will see if what they say about these Silaxians is true,” said Hordak.

A lavender-skinned muscular woman appeared from the silver metallic spaceship, with a long white braid of hair down her back.

“I am Huntara,” said a low gruff voice. The woman removed her black face mask, revealing her lavender face, white hair and mostly bald forehead. Her forehead was wide and militaristic in appearance. Three lines were tattooed over both sides of her face, like tribal symbols. She wore blue armor shoulder pads, a black thick bra and dark undergarments. Gold gauntlets protected her arms. She also wore blue armored boots and a high blue pocketed skirt.

“Which one of you is Hordak?” she asked.

“I am Hordak,” he said. “Welcome to Etheria, Huntara. It is a great honor to…”

“I’m not here for pretty speeches,” Huntara interrupted before leaping from her ship and landing gracefully on the metal ground. “You have asked for help. I am here to give you that help. But first, you must prove to me that this She-Ra is as evil…as you say.”

“She-Ra, evil?” asked Leech.

“I thought we were the evil ones,” Grizzlor added.

“Oooh she’s evil alright,” Hordak lied. “…and I’ve got the proof. If you’ll just allow my troopers to escort you to my throne room, I’ll show it to you.”

“Very well. Let us go,” said Huntara, proceeding to leave by herself.

Shadow Weaver looked at Hordak.  “How can you convince her that She-Ra is as evil as you say?”

Hordak replied. “I’ve had some false hollowed in pictures made. They make She-Ra look totally evil. Huntara will believe them, even if they are all lies.” He laughed evilly.

  In the throne room, the video clips showed a Horde convoy of metal vehicles moving on a path by a green field.

 Hordak lied, “This convoy was carrying medicine to a village beset by plane. She-Ra and her rebels attacked it. She destroyed it completely.”

The screen showed Bow and the others charging forward. Soon, one of the convoy cars flipped over and exploding. She-Ra threw another into the air, causing it to explode on the ground.

“…and without the medicine, all the people of the village grew sick.”

Huntara placed her fingers on her chin in thought. “She is powerful.”

“Yes,” said Hordak. “Now look at this.”

The screen switched to show a village burning and people running for cover. The roofs on the houses were on fire and villagers scattered in every direction. She-Ra appeared with a small smirk.

Hordak lied some more, “This was a town that refused to join She-Ra’s Rebellion. She ordered it burned to the ground.”

“I don’t remember She-Ra doing all that,” Grizzlor pointed out.

“Now here…”

“I have seen enough, Hordak,” Huntara cut in. “I will battle this She-Ra.”

Hordak grinned. “Excellent!”

“But there is a condition.”

“Name it.”

“The battle must be between me and She-Ra alone. None of your hordes men must interfere.”

Hordak was taken aback, “Are you sure? You’ve seen just how strong she is.  

Huntara glared coldly. “She-Ra and me alone. That is the way of the warriors of Silax.”

Hordak reluctantly nodded as Huntara walked away. “If that’s the way you want it. But how will you get She-Ra to accept your challenge?”

“Has she any friends?” she asked.

Hordak stood up. “As a matter of fact she has many.” Then he stuttered, covering up his lie, following her. “Oh of course, they’re all as evil as she is, but she is loyal to them.”

Thus Huntara found out about the members of the Rebellion and one member in particular, Glimmer.

Catra growled again. “I don’t like that woman.”

Scorpia glared back at her. “As much as I hate to agree with you, I agree with you.”

 (Glimmer flies in a yellow butterfly shaped plane. Huntara spies on her through binoculars at her ship.)

Huntara: “At last. The bait I have chosen for my trap leaves her nest. Now to catch her.”

(Huntara chases after her in her silver slender spaceship).

(Glimmer gasps “What?!” as Huntara fires green lasers at her ship)

Glimmer: “I don’t know who that is, but they won’t get me so easily.”

(Glimmer flies around behind Huntara’s ship)

Huntara: “A smart move. But my tail beamers will bring her down.”

(Cockpit screen beeps as it locks onto her target. The back beams fire, making impact with Glimmer’s ship. The ship falls and crashes.)

(Glimmer slowly gets up.) Glimmer: “That was not one of my better landings.”

(Huntara stands over her, looking down.)

Huntara: “Now, all that’s left is to deliver my challenge to She-Ra.”

(Huntara captures Glimmer and holds her in a glass capsule)

 Back at the Rebellion camp, She-Ra makes plans with Bow, pointing to maps.

Bow: “The next Horde tax collector, should come through here.”

Adora: “We’d better start planning.”

Grav the Innkeeper: “Adora! Adora…a woman came into the inn and demanded I bring you this.”

(Adora holds a black device in her hand)

Grav: “Yes, she said it was for She-Ra and if she doesn’t get it, Glimmer will be in great danger.”

She-Ra: “Who was this woman?”

Grav: “I’ve never seen her before but I will tell you this…she made my blood run cold.”

Adora: “Oh thank you Garv. We’ll get this to She-Ra.”

Adora: “I think we’d better take a look at this message.”

Bow: “But if it’s for She-Ra?”

Adora: “If Glimmers in danger, I don’t think She-Ra will object.”

(Adora presses a button, activating the message. Holographic images of Huntara appears)

 Huntara sends a message to She-Ra.

“I am Huntara. Listen well, She-Ra. I have your friend, Glimmer. This device you see is a dimensional transporter. If you do not meet me in battle by the time the sun is at its highest, I will use it to send Glimmer to a place from which she will never return. We will meet at Tomb Rock in the Crimson Waste. You must come alone. If you bring help or fail to come, Glimmer will pay the price. Defeat me and I promise she will go free. Until we cross swords. Farewell, evil one.”

Bow: “Evil one? That’s something coming from the member of the Horde.”

Adora: “She doesn’t look like a member of the Horde. But whether she is or isn’t, we need She-Ra right away.”

 Meanwhile in Scorpia’s lair in the desert…

(Scorpia and Catra argue)

Scorpia: “Hmph! Why should I?”

Catra: “If Huntara beats She-Ra, we’ll all be cleaning garbage bins!”

Scorpia: “You have a point there. Alright, what’s your plan?”

Catra: “We’ll take your Crawler, and watch the battle from hiding. Then we’ll take care of whoever wins.”

Scorpia: “Very well. I don’t like you much, but I’d rather have you as the Force Captain than that arrogant witch Huntara.”

 Adora: “For the honor of Grayskull!”

(Adora transforms into She-Ra)

“I am She-Ra!”

(Spirit transforms into SwiftWind)

  She-Ra: “There’s Tomb Rock. Fly low, and I’ll drop off.”

SwiftWind: “Please be careful.”

She-Ra: “I will be.”

(She-Ra lands safely on the ledge.)

 (She-Ra and Huntara get ready to fight in the desert)

She-Ra: “Huntara, I’m here.”

Huntara: “Welcome, She-Ra. I am Huntara.”

(Huntara stands above on a ledge)

Huntara: “Hordak was right. As evil as you are, you still come to help a friend.”

She-Ra: “Hordak? Listen, I don’t know what he’s told you but…”

Huntara: “Spare me your lies, town burner. Our battle will begin in those hills.”

(She points to the hills to the right)

She-Ra: “Fighting doesn’t solve anything.  If you’ll only tell me why you’re doing this…”

Huntara: “Huh. (scoffs) So you are something of a coward. I should have expected it. But this is one fight you cannot avoid.”

She-Ra: “If you’re so eager to fight, let’s start right here.”

(She-Ra jumps, flips in the air and lands on the ledge, facing Huntara)

Huntara: “You take…opportunity quickly. I good trait for a warrior.”

(Huntara takes out a silver sphere from her pocket and throws it at She-Ra. She-Ra is blinded by the flash grenade and Huntara escapes. She-Ra looks around.)

She-Ra: “She’s gone.”

Huntara: “The hills, She-Ra. I will see you in the hills.”

(Huntara leaps away)

She-Ra: “She’s clever. I can’t let her get too far ahead.”

(She-Ra leaps after her. She flips in mid-air and lands on the sandy ground. Huntara runs off, with She-Ra following.)

 (Catra and Scorpia watch from their scorpion tank)

Scorpia; “It’s started!”

Catra: “Quick, let’s follow them!”

 Huntara: “Come on, She-Ra…just a little farther…”

(She-Ra walks on the ground)

She-Ra: “She’s got to be around here somewhere.”

(Huntara watches from above and pulls out another device from her blue pocket. The device is round and she pushes a button, which jets out spikes)

Huntara: “My exploder star will take out the trap.”

(Huntara throws the device at the rocks. The star explodes against the rock, which soon collapses.

She-Ra: “An avalanche!”

(She-Ra is buried under the rocky rubble)

Huntara: “Can she be trapped so easily? Perhaps I overestimated her strength.”

(Huntara soon looks in surprise as She-Ra flies from the rubble and sits on a rubble arch.)

She-Ra: “What’s the matter, Huntara? Never seen an instant tunnel before?”

Huntara: “You are a worthy opponent. But I am even better.”

She-Ra: “Prove it!”

(Huntara throws a blue bomb, which She-Ra avoids and jumps out of the way. She flips and lands safely on the ledge)

She-Ra: “Phew.”

(She-Ra looks around)

She-Ra: “She’s gone again. But where?”

(She-Ra spots a figure in the distance)

She-Ra: “There she is. And it looks like she’s got another little ambush planned. But this time, I’ll surprise her!”

(She-Ra leaps from the ledge at a standing black hooded figure)

She-Ra: “Ha!...”

(She-Ra holds nothing but a black cloth in her hand)

She-Ra: “Why, nothing but a trick!”

(Cage walls enclose her)

She-Ra: “This cage won’t hold me.”

Huntara: “It will hold you long enough for my sleep gas to affect you.”

(Huntara pulls out another silver sphere)

She-Ra: “Got to move fast!”

(She-Ra thrusts herself against the cage, moving it and herself over to the side. The device explodes in the previous spot. The cage breaks and she is free.)

She-Ra: “That was close. She’s got more tricks than my brother’s friend Orko.”

(Glimmer bangs on the glass)

Glimmer: “Why are you doing this?”

Huntara: “Your leader, She-Ra, is evil, and the way of Silax is dedicated to fighting evil.”

Glimmer: “She-Ra’s not evil. It’s the Horde who’s evil.”

Huntara: “Your lies cannot affect me. I have seen the proof of She-Ra’s foul deeds.”

Glimmer: “Wait! Come back!”

(She-Ra looks at Glimmer and hides behind a pillar of rock)

She-Ra: “There’s Glimmer. But where’s Huntara? I smell a trap.”

(She-Ra walks up to Glimmer)

She-Ra: “Have you free in a minute, Glimmer.”

(Glimmer points above)

Glimmer: “She-Ra! Look out!”

(Huntara leaps down from a ledge)

Huntara: “You’ve come far, evil one. But this is the end.”

(Huntara takes out two glowing green swords)

Huntara: “My stun swords will fail you, and then I’ll deliver you to Hordak.”

(She-Ra ducks from her attacks. She-Ra jumps backward and flips in the air.)

Huntara: “You were lucky that time, She-Ra. But I’m not through yet!”

She-Ra: “Sword to rope!”

(Sword turns into thick white rope. She-Ra tosses the rope at Huntara, which pulls the swords from her hands.)

Huntara: “Impossible!”

(She-Ra throws the rope again, which binds Huntara)

Glimmer: “All right She-Ra! You got her!”

(Huntara pulls another device out, but She-Ra pulls her forward with the rope, the device falling from her hands. He head is downcast in defeat. She-Ra’s rope turns back into the sword.)

She-Ra: “It’s over, Huntara. You’re beaten.”

Huntara: “Never have I been defeated by an evil one. You are a great warrior, She-Ra. By the code of Silax, I am now your slave.”

She-Ra: “The Horde takes slaves. I don’t. As far as I’m concerned, you’re free to go, right after you release Glimmer.”

Huntara: “I don’t understand. You do not seem evil, and yet Hordak said…”

She-Ra: “He lied to you. I told you that, but you wouldn’t listen.”

Huntara: “Can it be? Have I been tricked so easily/”

She-Ra: “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Hordak is a master of lies.”

(Huntara looks apologetic)

Huntara: “I have wronged you, She-Ra and shamed myself. But I swear to you, Hordak will pay for this treachery. Come. Let us free your friend.”

(Glimmer is freed)

Glimmer: “She-Ra, look!”

(Crawler arrives with Catra and Scorpia. The device fires sleeping gas, which knocks out the three of them.)

Scorpia: “My scorpion sting cannon put them all to sleep!”

Catra: “I knew we couldn’t trust that Huntara! Let’s get them back to the Fright Zone, quick!”

At the Fright Zone, Glimmer and She-Ra are held in a golden force, while Huntara talks to Hordak with two robots on either side. Her hands are cuffed together.

Huntara: “You lied to me, Hordak. She-Ra is not evil.”

Hordak: “Foolish woman! Your childish sense of fair play has no place here on Etheria. Take her to the dungeons. We’ll let her rot for a while.” (laughs)

(Huntara pulls out a device and throws it forward. A smoke grenade allows her to escape)

Catra: “She’s gone!”

Hordak: “Nincompoops, bunglers!”

Huntara: “I must free She-Ra and Glimmer.”

(Huntara throws an exploding star at the top of the device, making the orange energy disappear.)

She-Ra: “Hunatra’s done it! Come on, let’s give her a hand.”

Hordak: “Stop them!”

(Robots charge forward, while one holds all three swords. She-Ra kicks a pillar with a “Heeeyah!” which barrels into the oncoming troopers.)

Glimmer: “Excuuuse me, but that belongs to a friend of mine.”

(Glimmer grabs the sword from the robot)

Glimmer: “She-Ra, catch!”

(She-Ra catches her sword)

She-Ra: “Thanks.”

Huntara: “These chains.”

(She-Ra slashes her sword down, breaking the handcuff chain. She takes the cuffs off.)

Huntara: “Just let me get my swords.”

(Hunatra flips and rushes at the frightened robot. The robot flees and Huntara catches her swords)

Hordak: “Get her, you fools!”

Catra: “I’ll get you, Huntara!”

Scorpia: “She’s mine!”

(Huntara jumps out of the way, causing the two villains to crash into each other)

Hordak: “I’ll show you got to stop them!”

(He presses an orange square button, opening a door to reveal more troopers)

Huntara: “It seems like a good time to depart this foul fortress.”

She-Ra: “I couldn’t agree more.”

(The group flees and escapes)

 (Huntara stands in her ship)

She-Ra: “You sure you won’t stay? The Rebellion could use a fighter like you.”

Huntara: “I cannot, She-Ra. I am needed on my own planet. But, I wish you well. Farewell, She-Ra. When we meet again, it will be as friends.”

(Huntara pulls black mask over her face)

She-Ra: “I’ll look forward to it.”

(Both women wave to each other. The covering closes on the ship)

She-Ra: “She’s quite a woman, isn’t she, Swifty?”

SwiftWind: “That she is.” (nuzzles She-Ra.) “But then again, so are you, She-Ra. So are you.”

(Huntara flies away on her spaceship)

(2019)

She Ra is seen shaking Huntara’s hand, which she is not pleased. They are later seen fighting with swords in the desert at night. Huntara is shown holding She-Ra’s sword in her hand. Huntara appears as a de facto leader of the Crimson Waste who reluctantly helps Adora, Bow, and Glimmer on a quest.

[ellaofoakhill]

Kindling, Part Two

Author’s Note: Yeah, you’ll notice I asked (the talented) Heidi Varis to change my username to my actual name on my little cover art up there; I just decided recently to start putting myself forward as an author more seriously, and since I’ve (for now) decided against using a pen name, you get my actual name. I’ll shut up now and let you get reading.

Havel was late the next evening. Ella poked her head out the shop door; his boots were on the welcome mat, his cloak was on its usual hook. She rolled her eyes, suppressed a smile, and headed up to the kitchen.

“Ooh!” she heard Meline’s voice, “I like this one.” Ella edged the door open. Selva, clad in a soft green tunic with brown leggings, zipped across the kitchen and fastened a hand on Ella’s trousers. Havel was laying out hand-me-downs on the table, which Meline was looking over. A honey-coloured dress with walnut accents was the object of her praise.

Ella rested a hand on Selva’s head. “Yes, you look very pretty.” She looked at Havel, who jumped when she spoke. “Come down to the shop when you’re finished.”

Havel nodded, a mildly guilty look on his face. A light went on in his eyes. “Selva,” he said, kneeling, “I have something for you.” She turned toward him.

Ella set a hand on her shoulder. “Go on.”

Selva approached. From a large pocket on his overalls Havel drew a patched, careworn creature that could plausibly have been a stuffed dragon. It had a snaky body, four stubby legs, and two flaps that may in the distant past have resembled wings.

“This is Flappy,” Havel said. “He was mine when I was little, and my sisters are old enough they don’t play with him anymore.” He glanced sidelong at Selva. “He’s looking for a new home and a new friend.”

After a moment, Selva held out her hands. Havel tenderly handed the stuffed animal to her. She looked Flappy all over, from his square muzzle with more patches than teeth, to the end of his tail, which looked like it had gotten caught in a door. She gave him a hug.

“Say ‘thank you,’” Meline said.

Selva looked at her toes. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” Havel said, getting back to his feet.

As Ella and he turned to go, she felt a hand fasten on her shirt. She set her hand over Selva’s and shook her head. “After you’ve been here a while, you can help me in the shop,” she said. “But it can be dangerous work, and I don’t want you to get hurt. Right now, stay with

Meline and help her, alright?” After a moment, Selva nodded. Ella swept Selva up in a hug. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

“She’s a dear,” Havel said as they descended the stairs. Ella kept glancing behind to make sure she wasn’t followed.

She closed the shop door once they were both inside. “She knows what kindness is, at least.”

Havel gave her a confused look. “I think all children do, Master.”

“But they can unlearn it.” His confusion deepened. Ella shook her head, trying to clear it. “Selva was beaten by someone in the last week, Havel.”

He had just taken up his hammer. His knuckles went white. “Who?” The thought occurred to Ella that no fairy valuing his life would lay hand on a Deeprock sister.

“I don’t know,” Ella said. “She came into my home yesterday, and has far to go before she fully trusts us, I think.” Seeing that Havel’s grip didn’t slacken, she set a hand in the centre of Havel’s chest. “Take a deep breath, my son. Deeper than the roots of the earth.”

Havel’s belly swelled and swelled, until Ella felt the trembling anger in his sinew yield. “Now breathe out, and let this anger pass like a storm in the day.”

In three breaths, Havel was himself again. His knuckles reddened. He opened his eyes. They were the grey of rainclouds. “What will happen to her, Master?”

Ella shook her head. “So long as she lives in my hall, she will be cared for.” She smiled. “Now, you asked last night about smelting silver with moonbeams?”

Ella had just set out her writing desk, and was mixing her ink when a soft tap came at the door. “Yes?” The door opened a crack. “Come in.”

Selva squeaked in. “Meline’s outside.”

Ella nodded. “She told you to stay in?” Selva shook her head. “Did you… not want to go with her?” After a moment’s thought, Selva nodded. “So she said you should find me?” Another nod. “Well, we just had lunch… what would you like to do?”

This seemed to baffle Selva. She came over and looked at what Ella was doing. “Squiggles?”

Ella smiled. “Writing. One of my teachers taught me the Fey script long ago, and I find it helps a great many things.” She thought back over twenty thousand years. The new world of Gaea, cold and wild, and so beautiful. Centuries lived in a cave on a desert escarpment, devoted single-mindedly to internalizing the teachings passed to her, of arms and words and the space no words could fill.

She returned her attention to Selva. “Do you know your script yet?” Selva shook her head. “Come, sit.” She patted her lap.

Selva curled her legs inside Ella’s, and Ella folded her blanket over them. The top of Selva’s head brushed Ella’s chin. It was a cozy arrangement.

“Now,” Ella took up her pen, “there are seven vowels.” She paused. “A vowel is the… the meat of a word. ‘Ah’, ‘E’, ‘Eh’, ‘I’, ‘Y’, ‘O’, and ‘U’ are the vowels of Feyish. All other sounds, the

consonants,” she enunciated the word, “are the bones that give the meat shape.” She tapped the top of Selva’s head with her chin. “Does that make sense?”

Selva nodded.

“Can you explain it back to me?” Selva’s quick nod turned into a shake of her head. “I’ll try again.” She explained again a few times, until Selva at least had the meat and bones idea down pat.

“That’s good,” Ella said, wondering if her teachers had felt this far out of their own depth; they’d seemed unshakeable to Ella, anyway. “Now I’m going to write them nice and big, and you’re going to try and copy me.”

Across the top of the page she wrote them out, in as fine a hand as she could manage. Then she gave the pen to Selva. “Now you try. Write each one under mine.”

Selva took the pen in her right hand—Ella tilted her head; most fey were left-handed—before switching it to her left. Holding it in her little fist, she touched pen to the paper. Then she twisted and looked up at Ella.

“Go on,” Ella murmured. “It took me many, many years before I could write them well.” Selva’s eyes widened, and Ella set a hand on top of her head. “But I could never write them as well as I can now if I hadn’t kept trying.”

Selva’s nod and the little grunt she gave were decisive. She furrowed her brow as she turned back to the paper. The pen moved with a child’s care, hitching and stopping and correcting its course as it drew the Ah.

When she finished, Selva looked up at Ella again. “It’s bad.”

Ella drew back. “What? No it isn’t!”

Selva pointed at her letter. “But I made squiggles, and it’s all spikey, and yours is silky.” She curled up on herself. “I can’t do it.”

After a moment, Ella leaned forward, putting her arms around Selva. Who raised you? “Selva,” she said, “you’ve never made even one letter before, right?” After a while, Selva nodded. “This is the first letter you ever made?” Another nod. “Do you want to make good letters?”

“But I can’t!”

“But do you want to? Do you want to make a better Ah than you just did?” She leaned forward. “Do you want to make a better Ah than I can?”

She felt Selva uncurl a bit. “But yours is…”

Ella waited. Selva uncurled a bit more. She sniffed. Ella gave her a handkerchief. She blew her nose.

“… but mine’s bad.”

Ella shook her head. “I watched you put your heart into that letter. You gave it your best.” She set a hand on Selva’s head. “And your best is never shameful. But with time, and with practice, your best can become better. So, do you want to make a better Ah than this one?”

Selva turned her head. In her dark almond-shaped eye, Ella saw a flame kindle. “Yeah.”

Ella smiled. “Then you will need to practice, and practice, and watch, and practice.” She pointed her chin to the paper. “A good place to start is with these vowels. Write them until you get to the bottom of this page.”

So Selva wrote. And Ella watched.

Eventually, Selva came to the bottom. “There’s no more page.”

Ella chuckled. “You can flip it over.”

Selva did. She held the pen out to Ella. “Make the vowels again.” Ella did so, and made to hand the pen back. But Selva shook her head. “Write something.”

Ella raised her eyebrows. “What should I write?”

Selva held a finger to her lips, and her eyes wandered in thought. “Something pretty. Like the letters.”

Ella gave a pensive sigh. “Something pretty like the letters…”

She held the pen just off the paper for a while, and closed her eyes. And then she wrote.

Vis dani,

Didnin dum sevnin sal emmilan,

Ethash dalvriash vran.

“Little spark

Coming through the dark and freezing night,

Has kindled brightest flame.”

Selva hmmed once Ella read it to her. “It’s… a little song?”

Ella chuckled. “It’s a poem.” Selva quirked an eyebrow, and Ella bit her cheek. “Poems are pieces of writing made to be beautiful. They usually have specific rules. This one is an elfling poette. It has three syllables—those are… bits of sound—in its first line, nine in its second, and six in its last. It’s an easy form to learn, but poets might practice for centuries and still not master it.” She touched the sheet. “My master would find this one acceptable.” She glanced at Selva. “Back to vowels?”

“Yeah!”

Meline woke to a sudden noise. She turned over. Ella was on the side of the bed furthest from the wall. Selva was between them. By the lamplight, she could see a wide little eye. Selva was breathing like she’d sprinted from Oakhill’s front door to her crown. It was sweltering under the blanket.

Meline stroked Selva’s hair. Selva tensed for an instant, then cuddled against Meline. This did not help the heat.

“Did you have a bad dream?” Meline whispered so as not to wake Ella.

Selva cuddled closer. “Yeah.”

“Do you wanna talk about it? That can help sometimes.”

Selva carefully sat up. She looked at Ella, who had just started snoring. She tugged the sleeve of Meline’s nightgown.

Meline made them each a cup of warm milk and honey in the kitchen. Selva sipped hers. It seemed to Meline the swelling about her eye had gone down.

“I was back there,” Selva said. “He was mad at me. He was madder at Stu.” She clenched the cup. “And I burned the house.”

It was hot in the kitchen, too. Meline went to open the window when she saw the milk in Selva’s cup starting to boil.

Meline came around the table and put her arms around Selva. The child was radiating heat.

“Did this… actually happen?” Meline asked. “Was it a remembering dream, or a made-up one?”

“He didn’t know about Stu.” The heat became just a bit less. “Not really.”

“Selva,” Meline said, “take a slow, deep breath for me.” She did, and got hotter again. “Now let it go.” The heat dropped, lower than before. “Again, deep breath in.” Hotter. “And out.” Cooler still. “This time breathe in and focus on your dream. Tie it into your breath.” Hotter, and then hotter. Almost so hot Meline couldn’t touch her. “Now breathe out, and breathe the dream out with it.”

An actual tongue of flame licked at Selva’s lips. It vanished, and Selva felt a normal warm to Meline’s touch.

Meline sat in the seat beside her. “How do you feel now?”

Tears leaked from Selva’s eyes. Meline stroked her hair. “Come here.” Selva curled up in Meline’s lap, and Meline wrapped her arms around her, rocking back and forth until she finished her milk.

“Shall we go back to bed?”

Selva was already asleep. Meline carried her back, pulled the blankets up over her, and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Ella stirred. “Ever’thing alrigh’?”

Meline kissed her too. “Yeah. Go back to sleep.”