Hello, my wonderful friends! 😊
It's time for the first chapter of a new episode of my fanfic, which is quite exciting to me!
For those of you have been reading along, you've been patient, and I left you on an awful (or great) cliffhanger last week, after the resolution of a terrible threat to Etheria.
Now, I'm beginning a new phase of my story, and I hope you will like it. 😁
But first, let's review the story so far.
The battle against Horde Prime is over, and new stories are about to begin as the heroes part ways. (Episode 53: On The Plain of Heroes)
Sea Hawk and Mermista face a deadly whirlpool on their way to Salineas, while Adora and the Best Friends Squad try to make Catra feel at home in Bright Moon. (Episode 54: Just Friends Ship)
After an agonizing night apart, Catra and Adora start a new adventure, while Mermista and Sea Hawk survive the storm together, and Glimmer and Bow anticipate Micah's return. (Episode 55: Sleeping Arrangements)
Sea Hawk returns Mermista to Salineas, while Micah comes home to Bright Moon, and Swift Wind brings Catra and Adora home with troubling news, owing their lives to the quick action of Spinnerella and Netossa. (Episode 56: Throne Room)
A tense meeting takes place in Bright Moon's council chamber, Frosta and Perfuma travel back to the Fright Zone with Scorpia, and Entrapta and Wink leave on a bold journey. (Episode 57: Missing Peace)
Entrapta and Wink arrive on Beast Island and face immediate danger, Scorpia forms peace between the princesses and the former soldiers of the Horde, and Adora and Catra accompany Micah on a vital mission only to discover that Mystacor is in terrible trouble! (Episode 58: Peace Zone)
Entrapta and Wink are rescued by an old friend, while Sea Hawk helps Mermista to bring her people back home, Adora and Catra and Micah find out what happened to Mystacor, and Perfuma and Frosta part ways with Scorpia (now ruler of the Peace Zone). (Episode 59: Good Will Tour)
Catra helps to rebuild Mystacor as Entrapta solves the puzzle of the strange and deadly disasters happening around Etheria, and the Best Friend Squad activates the distress beacon of Bright Moon. (Episode 60: Cry For Etheria)
All of the princesses gather together to convene an "emergency sleepover," and Castaspella and Catra learn to appreciate one another. (Episode 61: Stay Close)
The princesses, guided by Entrapta and Bow, form a plan to save Etheria from destruction, while Adora and Catra are haunted by past traumas. (Episode 62: Chance for the Future, Ghosts from the Past)
The princesses return to their kingdoms amidst growing disasters, and Hordak leads Entrapta (accompanied by Adora, Bow, Emily, and Wink) to the Chamber of the Heart. (Episode 63: Welcome . . .)
Adora faces puzzles and danger on her way to the Chamber of the Heart, while Catra makes her way alone, and Scorpia assembles her old crew within the rage of the storm in the Peace Zone. (Episode 64: Where There Is Light)
Everyone works together to save their planet, but Scorpia (with Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio) face extraordinary difficulties, and Entrapta and Bow are missing crucial information as they work with the failing First Ones Systems. (Episode 65: Shutdown Part 1)
Everyone is tested to their very limits as they work together with all of their energies and their loyalty to each other to finally shut down the First Ones Systems before they tear Etheria apart. But something is wrong with Glimmer, and she falls from the Moonstone pillar. (Episode 66: Shutdown Part 2)
I will dedicate my final fanfic post of 2022 to my dear friend, fellow artist, and faithful reader Cal ( @CallistoArt ),
She will understand why, and I think most of you will see why also.
And I am hoping that you will all be pleased by this week's offering, too! 😃
Onward, me lovelies!
EPISODE 67: Light In The Mourning
All is dark.
There is a soft groaning sound.
A thin horizontal line of gray slowly appears, brightening and widening into a yellow-white light filling the void.
There is the hint of movement, a dark, vaguely-defined figure leaning in.
Glimmer: [groggily] Boooooow?
She reaches out her hand, feeling the space in front of her, and suddenly, there is another strong hand reaching towards her, touching, encircling her palm in a gentle squeeze.
Glimmer blinks, trying to resolve the shape of the figure beside her. She smiles sleepily.
Glimmer: [weakly] You’re here.
The features in her vision sharpen as shapes and colors define themselves, and all at once, a smiling, friendly face leans over her with eyes of yellow and teal glinting in the morning light.
Catra: [gently] I’m here, Sparkles.
Glimmer: [with mild surprise] Catra! It’s you.
Catra: Yep. It's just me.
A simple, soft bed has been placed in the middle of Glimmer’s bedroom floor, and two of Bright Moon’s finest stand unobtrusively at one side of the room, standing guard in watchful attendance over their resting queen.
Catra sits on the edge of the bed at Glimmer’s side holding her hand, the tips of her hair touched by the golden natural light spilling in from the large circular window past the foot of the bed.
Glimmer: [warmly] Actually, I’m glad it’s you. I’m . . . glad you’re here.
For a moment, Glimmer smiles gratefully, and Catra responds with a friendly smile of her own.
Suddenly, Glimmer frowns, looking downward.
Glimmer: [tentatively] I had this . . . dream? I was . . . falling, and then [her brow furrows] . . . I was flying.
She looks up, questioning Catra by her troubled expression.
Catra nods reassuringly, now holding Glimmer’s right hand in both of hers.
Catra: [concerned] I saw what happened. You . . .
Catra looks away, gently setting Glimmer’s hand down onto the bed as she does so.
Catra: You fell . . . from the Moonstone. And it happened so quickly that no one could really do anything. Except . . . Swift Wind.
She turns back towards Glimmer, her smile returning.
Catra: The moment you were falling, he was in the air. He flew. [with growing intensity, rich with awe] Faster than anything I’ve ever seen! And he caught you on his back, right out of the air! [pause] He saved you.
Glimmer regards Catra with wide eyes.
Glimmer: [softly, in awe] Saved me? [pause] Is he okay? Where is he now?
Catra gives her an odd ironic smile and nods toward the far edge of the bed.
Catra: He never left your side.
Glimmer turns her head to the left, and sees that the fingers of her left hand are idly kneading a soft pile of rose-colored strands. She flexes her fingers, burying them deeply within the mane belonging to a magical and heroic horse. Swift Wind lies beside her bed, breathing softly in peaceful slumber, with his beautiful great head laid upon the mattress near her. She grins at the sight and gently lifts her hand to pat his muzzle affectionately. He responds with an ear-twitch and a soft sleep-whinny.
Glimmer turns to look at Catra again, searching her face.
Glimmer: What about . . . Adora? Bow?
Catra: [reassuringly] They’re on their way. [She tilts her head, smiling at Glimmer with understanding] He’ll be here soon.
Glimmer’s expression relaxes with a smile of relief. After a moment, she turns her head towards the window, her smile fading a bit.
Glimmer: [with slight hesitation] What . . . does the world look like . . . now?
Catra grins at her.
Catra: [mysteriously] Why don’t you come and see? Your majesty.
Glimmer grins back with a sparkle of anticipation. She starts to lean forward to rise from the bed, but stops short, wincing.
Glimmer: [groaning] Unnngh.
With a look of concern, Catra leans over to hold Glimmer’s shoulders, taking her hand.
Catra: [quickly] I’ll help you. You’re okay.
As Catra assists Glimmer to sit up on the side of the bed, the two guards move quickly to her aid, but Glimmer holds up a hand.
Glimmer: [sharply] No. No, thank you. I don’t need your assistance. In fact, you can go.
She turns with a trusting smile to Catra, now sitting beside her.
Glimmer: [to the guards] The Lady Catra is all the help I need right now.
The Bright Moon guards back away, respectfully, bowing as they do, before moving to the door and quietly leaving the room. The doors close silently.
Glimmer nods to Catra and puts an arm across her shoulders.
Placing an arm around Glimmer’s waist, Catra stands up with her, supporting most of her weight. Together, they walk slowly to the window seat. Glimmer looks pleased with this, though she winces slightly with each step of her right foot.
Upon reaching the window, Catra gently lowers Glimmer to the seat, where she relaxes against the cushions and breathes a tired sigh. Catra joins her at the opposite end of the seat, and they both turn their heads toward the late morning view outside.
Glimmer gasps.
A million golden sparkles dance across the surface of the brilliant green-blue waters below, like living starlight finally given the freedom to play. Rising above this gentle glittering flow, a light mist takes to the air, drifting upwards to touch the rays of the sun, where it blossoms into a field of shimmering rainbows.
Directly across from Glimmer’s window and through the rainbow air, the cliff faces rising from the shores of the water are painted in ribbons of variegated purples and maroons that seem to glow against the pale blue sky. And the nearby woodlands are fresh and verdant, dazzling with their hues of slivery green.
Overhead, half a dozen pale liquidy moons shed their light upon a stately procession of magnificent rose-colored clouds in peaceful motion across the heavens.
Everywhere Glimmer looks, there is color and movement and life, creatures on the land and birds in the air, as if Etheria once again has cause and desire for celebration!
Glimmer turns to meet Catra’s eyes, with tears in her own.
Glimmer: [breathlessly] It’s like a dream. It’s like . . .
She turns back to the world outside.
Glimmer: [shaking her head, wonderingly] . . . the whole world has . . . woken up! As if all of the magic . . . [she pauses] is . . .
Her voice trails off, and her smile disappears. She lifts her hands and stares at them. Slowly, she opens and closes her palms, and she regards them with a troubled light in her eyes.
Catra sees Glimmer’s dismay, and she quickly fills the silence.
Catra: I . . . I’ve got something for you.
Glimmer raises her head as Catra reaches down to her side.
She fumbles a moment to untie the cord at her hip, then lifts it up to show Glimmer.
Wordlessly, Glimmer gazes at the crystal.
Catra: [holding the crystal out to her] This. It’s from Micah. He said you’d know what to do with it.
Glimmer slowly lifts her hand to take the crystal by its cord, and she studies it with a wondering expression.
Glimmer: This is from the Lunarium. [sadly] I guess it must have been destroyed when Mystacor fell.
As the crystal spins in the air, it catches some light from one of the moons, and a soft glow emerges from its dim heart. Glimmer smiles sadly. Then she hands it back toward Catra.
Glimmer: You should keep it, Catra.
Catra holds up her hand with a slightly shocked expression, shaking her head.
Catra: What?! No. Of course not.
Glimmer: [definitely] Yes. I want you to have it. For what you did for Mystacor and for my Aunt Casta.
Catra: [hesitantly] I . . . but your father . . .
Glimmer: [fiercely] Catra, keep it! [smiling] Your queen commands it!
Catra falls silent, then nods and puts out her hand to receive the crystal. As she closes her fingers around it, Glimmer lays her hand on Catra’s fist and holds it. Catra looks up to meet her gaze. Glimmer looks at her with admiration.
Glimmer: Catra. Thank you.
Catra averts her eyes.
Catra: I . . . didn’t do very much. I just tried to help out.
Glimmer: I’m not just talking about Mystacor. [pause] I’m saying thank you . . . for saving me.
Catra looks back at Glimmer with widened eyes.
Glimmer: [warmly] I never actually thanked you for rescuing me from Horde Prime. But . . . now that I’ve been rescued, a-gain, [her smile widens] I realized that I should.
For a moment, Catra smiles at Glimmer, with just the tiniest hint of a sad frown. Then, she relaxes and tilts her head.
Catra: [with a little smirk] We’ve all rescued each other, Sparkles. [pause] I think maybe . . . that’s just what . . . friends do.
Glimmer breaks into a beaming smile, and leans forward, gently pulling Catra toward her into a hug. And Catra . . . let’s her. Closes her eyes and smiles.
In silence, the two friends hold one another, sharing a fragile moment of vulnerable affection, accompanied by Swift Wind’s gentle snoring.
