Hello!

First of all, for what it's worth:

This my 1000th post on the wiki! :D

And my first fan fiction post of 2022, as well.

Previously in this episode:

In Part One, Entrapta spends some quality time with Darla and plans a trip with Wink.

Then, in Part Two, Perfuma and Frosta (each in their own way) help Scorpia prepare for her return to her homeland, and there are snowballs in springtime!

But, now, it's time to get serious, as Glimmer leads a meeting in Bright Moon to determine how to address the threat that now faces all of Etheria.

This is a bit of a longer part this time. I hope you will like it!

The mid-morning sun shines through a huge prismatic window on the ceiling of Bright Moon’s Council Chamber. The light splits into individual beams that touch each of the seats around the large circular table, where Glimmer awaits the gathering of her friends. Glimmer is radiant in her royal attire, and she bears a look of determination and concern.

Spinnerella and Netossa are already present, as well as Micah, who has accepted his old chair, next to the queen’s. He is dressed more humbly than at his arrival the previous night. Not the image of a king, but equally noble as a strong presence of support beside his daughter.

Glimmer stands up when Bow enters the room, looking expectantly at him. Bow shrugs, shaking his head, then takes his own seat at the table across from her. Glimmer turns to Micah, who smiles encouragingly up at her. She smiles a little and gives his hand a brief squeeze of affection, before she takes her seat again.

All heads turn at the sound of footsteps from the other side of the room. General Juliet approaches the table and removes her helmet. She executes a small bow to Glimmer.

General Juliet: They will be here shortly, your Majesty.

General Juliet takes her seat beside Glimmer, and the room falls silent again.

There is an air of expectancy in the Council Chamber of Bright Moon, broken only as Catra enters the room with Adora. Adora bears a small bandage on her forehead over her left eyebrow, and there are a couple of small clean scratch marks on the side of her neck and cheek. Glimmer abandons ceremony and rushes over to them.

Glimmer: [with concern] Adora. Catra.

Catra: Sorry we’re late, your Majesty.

Adora: [sheepishly] I guess we overslept a little.

Glimmer: [waving the thought away] Don’t worry about that. How are you feeling? Are you all right?

Catra: [quickly] We’re fine. [after a slight pause] Thanks.

Catra turns to Adora and puts a hand on her shoulder, searching her eyes for reassurance.

Catra: Right?

Adora smiles at her and nods.

Adora: Yeah.

She turns to Glimmer again.

Adora: We’re okay. Ready to get started.

Glimmer: [glancing around] And Swift Wind?

Swift Wind: Right here!

Glimmer whirls around to find him immediately behind her. She smiles.

Glimmer: Great! Then we’re all here.

She turns and walks with them back to the table, where Adora and Catra take their places to one side of Bow. Swift Wind crosses around the table to an empty space, stares for a moment at the table, then raises his head and clears his throat dramatically.

Swift Wind: You know, . . .

Glimmer, standing beside the queen’s chair, holds up her hand in a halting gesture.

Glimmer: Ah-ah. No need to say another word.

She motions to the guards behind him. Swift Wind turns and steps back as they carry a heavy and luxurious lounge over to the empty place at the table, setting it down gently. Swift Wind eyes it appreciatively for a moment. He lifts up a fore-hoof and delicately presses it into the padding, then lightly taps one of the cushions.

Swift Wind: [appraisingly] Hmmm. Mm-hmmmmm.

Glimmer grins with pleasure at his obvious fascination.

Glimmer: See? I hadn’t forgotten.

All at once Swift Wind does a little graceful leap into the air and lands heavily onto the lounge, his legs folded casually beneath him. The furniture creaks, but stands solid.

Swift Wind: Veeeeeery nice! [after a pause] Okay, you can proceed.

Glimmer giggles a little, but then composes herself to a more serious demeanor.

Glimmer: Then let’s begin.

She seats herself. Looking around the table, she addresses them all.

Glimmer: Last night, something unusual happened that endangered our friends. And it may pose a threat to Bright Moon. The purpose of this meeting is to determine what it is and what action we need to take because of it.

She directs her attention toward Adora and Catra.

Glimmer: Adora. You said something about a warning.

Adora: That’s right. But . . . [turning to Catra] actually, it was Catra who first noticed something was wrong.

She smiles apologetically to Catra.

Adora: I should have listened to her.

Glimmer turns to Catra.

Glimmer: What was it you noticed, Catra?

Catra glances around at the faces staring at her, then drops her gaze down toward the table, frowning at the memory.

Catra: It was a few days ago, in the Whispering Woods. I heard . . . a voice. But it wasn’t coming from anywhere. It was like an echo. But without any source. I thought . . .

She turns to look at Adora with a pained expression. Adora frowns sympathetically. Catra turns away, looking down again.

Catra: I thought it was something inside my head.

Glimmer: [trying to understand] Inside your head?

Adora: [leaning forward in her chair, emphatically] But it wasn’t.

Catra: [looking up at Adora] No. [looking to Glimmer] I went back later, and the voice was stronger. More insistent.

Glimmer: [on the edge of her seat] Insistent about what?

Catra: I don’t know. Something about “errors.” Emergency. Warning.

Glimmer: But, why didn’t you say something?

Catra: [her voice rising defensively] Because it didn’t make any sense! It was just . . . words. [after a pause] And . . . I was angry. I just wanted to forget about it.

Adora notices Catra’s discomfort.

Adora: [jumping in] Then, yesterday, we were flying over the woods. And . . . something drew me back . . . to the Crystal Castle. The feeling was so strong, so urgent, I could hardly resist it.

She speaks reflectively, reliving in her mind what she saw.

Adora: We went inside, and it was dead, empty, except for one panel that was still active. And there was a light. I could tell . . . I don’t know how, but I could tell that it meant that something was wrong. Not just here, but everywhere. The whole of Etheria.

Glimmer looks toward Spinnerella and Netossa to her right, then back to Catra and Adora.

Glimmer: [prompting them, puzzled] And then? There was a storm?

Everyone is a bit startled as Swift Wind suddenly chimes in.

Swift Wind: [dramatically] Hooooo-boy, was there! Like nothing I have ever seen. Out. Of. Nowhere!

Adora: [nodding] It’s true. No warning at all. And it wasn’t anything natural.

Swift Wind: Definitely unnatural.

Catra: And we nearly didn’t make it back.

In their rapid-fire statements, Glimmer is looking from one to the other, taking it all in with an expression of mounting worry.

Adora: [urgently] Glimmer, we have got to alert the other princesses about this.

Glimmer suddenly frowns, reasserting control of the situation.

Glimmer: Wait a minute! Activate the beacon, you mean? I don’t think so. We don’t even know what we’re dealing with here!

Catra: We know enough. Adora’s right.

Glimmer: [in a reasonable tone] But we don’t know what it is. Is it an isolated event? Is it being controlled somehow? Is it magic? Is it technology?

Adora: [impatient] We know that it’s a threat, and we know that it’s big. We’re gonna need all the help we can get, and Bright Moon’s beacon is the best way to get help.

Glimmer: Adora, the other princesses have their own urgent concerns right now! Many of their kingdoms were ravaged by the Horde. Whatever is happening here, we need to know more about it first. If it’s a threat, we need to know what kind of a threat it is. Then, we can decide if we need to alert the other princesses.

Adora: [pressing her] It may be too late by then!

Glimmer: [standing up and raising her voice] This is my decision!

A stunned silence falls around the table, and Glimmer scans their faces, her expression set in determination. Adora has an expression of hurt, and Catra’s fur bristles. Glimmer’s eyes settle on Bow, who frowns sadly at her. Her face falls as she takes in the effect of her own words. She sits down and composes herself. Then turns to Adora.

Glimmer: [gently, but firmly] Adora, I’m sorry. I know that you’re concerned. So am I. But before we take action, let’s see if we can make sense of what we know.

She takes a deep breath.

Glimmer: [turning to Catra] First, we know that there’s some sort of mysterious presence in the Whispering Woods. [turning to Adora] And it seems to be connected with the warning you discovered in the Crystal Castle. [turning to Swift Wind] And it also likely caused that strange storm that was definitely not natural. That sounds like some sort of magic to me.

She turns toward the princesses to her right.

Glimmer: Spinnerella, Netossa, what are your opinions?

They look at one another and nod.

Spinnerella: Well, I’ve never seen any winds move like that before. Unless they were driven by magic.

Netossa: [firmly] Yep, I agree. Definitely magic.

Glimmer nods and turns to Bow.

Glimmer: Bow, anything to add?

Bow: [evenly] Not really. [gesturing toward Catra and Adora] I just want to be sure that we can all come together [looking at Glimmer, frowning] around whatever you decide.

Glimmer: [sighing] Point taken. So do I.

She turns to Micah, who sits silently beside her in attentive contemplation.

Glimmer: Dad, what are your thoughts?

Micah: [deliberately] Well, if this thing is being caused by an unfamiliar kind of magic, then we need help from Mystacor. We need the knowledge and wisdom of the sorcerers to discover what’s causing it and how to deal with it.

Glimmer: I agree with that.

She turns to look across the table.

Glimmer: Adora?

Adora: [with slight bitterness] You’ve heard my opinion.

Glimmer: I’m asking you to come with me to bring this information to Mystacor. You and Catra and Swift Wind.

General Juliet rises slightly in her chair, leaning toward Glimmer.

General Juliet: [quietly] Your Majesty. If this becomes an immediate threat to Bright Moon, it would be well if the queen was present.

Glimmer: [nodding, slightly reluctantly] You’re quite right, General.

She turns back to Adora her eyes pleading.

Glimmer: Adora, would you be willing to go with Micah to Mystacor? Please.

Adora: [after a moment, nodding] Okay. Yes.

Catra: [rankled] What?! But, Adora . . .

Adora: [resigned] No, Catra, she’s right. It makes sense. And it is her decision as Queen of Bright Moon.

Glimmer: [to Catra] I promise you, I am prepared to activate the beacon if and when it becomes necessary. Bow has built some new tracker pads that we’ll use to stay in contact, and if there is any sign of an additional threat or you find out something that warrants it, I won’t hesitate to act. [earnestly] You have my word.

Catra glares at her a moment, but sees her sincerity. She looks to Adora, who nods encouragingly.

Catra: [sighing] Fine, whatever. Anything to get out of this room and actually do something about it!

Glimmer addresses the rest of the gathering.

Glimmer: Right. Are we agreed, then?

There are nods and words of assent around the table.

Glimmer: [nodding] Then, let’s get to it.

As everyone rises from their chairs and starts to move, they are suddenly frozen by an unusual sound: like a cross between a creaky door and a small hailstorm.

They all turn to see Swift Wind sound asleep on the lounge, snoring vigorously.

Slowly, Adora and Catra, Glimmer and Bow, gather around staring down at their deeply snoozing friend. He lies comfortably, mouth open, slightly drooling.

They look at each other and smile. Then Glimmer motions to the guards, who appear beside them with a large blanket, which they drape over the noble slumbering steed.

Glimmer gives her guards a big grin and double thumbs-up, and everyone creeps away softly on tip-toe.