Hooray for the weekend!
And for the time to post the next part of my fanfic! 😄
This one is kinda fun, so I'm excited.
Also, it's a little longer than usual. More to enjoy!
But first, time to summarize events of the episode so far!
Part One: Adora rises early for her journey into the Whispering Woods.
Part Two: Glimmer's attempt to bring her magic back reminds her that she has duties. And also that she really cares about Bow!
Part Three: She-Ra fails to find the old wise lady of the woods.
Part Four: Razz prepares for a guest, and Adora arrives at last!
I am dedicating this week's chapter to Noelle (@WhenYou'reTheOnly1WhoUnderstandsCatra ), 'cause she's a great friend and Artistic Ally, and I love when she role-plays Glimmer!
Now, gear up for the true life of a queen!
How exciting? 🤨
Let's go!
An aggressive scratching sound is coming from Glimmer’s bedroom: like a large insect chewing stubbornly on a disagreeable leaf.
Within, Glimmer sits, huddled frowning over her desk, attacking a piece of parchment with a stylus. She mutters to herself in a serious and disgruntled manner.
Glimmer: [with quiet intensity, as she writes each word] . . . and since the . . . auxiliary guard staff . . . are no longer needed . . . for regular missions . . . beyond the castle grounds, . . . please . . . re-assign them to duties . . . as necessary . . . including . . . public building and repair . . . supply inventory and storage . . . and . . . messenger services . . . signed . . . Queen Glimmer.
She finishes with a flourish.
Glimmer: [pleased] There!
Sitting up tall, she lifts the parchment sheet to regard it for a moment smiling, nods approvingly, and sets it down onto a pile to her right.
Picking up the next sheet beneath it, she examines the heading. And groans.
Glimmer: [throwing her head back] Erggghhhh! Didn’t I just do this?!
She sits forward, throwing a blank stare at the parchment and lifting it slightly. The page unfolds into a slightly larger sheet.
Glimmer: [sarcastic and mock-laughing] Oh, right! My mistake! Haha, it’s completely different! This one is even . . . longer!
With a heavy sigh, Glimmer sets down the parchment and begins to scribble on it meaningfully.
Across the room to Glimmer’s left, Swift Wind’s head pokes around the corner of the door. He studies Glimmer with a raised eyebrow.
Swift Wind: Uhhh, Glimmer. [pause, then quickly] Who are you talking to?
Without turning her head, Glimmer grits her teeth, and her eyes flash in frustration.
Glimmer: [growling] My sanity!
Swift Wind: [non-plussed] Mmm-hmm. Mind if I come in?
Glimmer shrugs.
Glimmer: [resignedly] Why not?
Swift Wind steps into the room and strides over to look over Glimmer’s shoulder as she works.
Swift Wind: [appraisingly] Hmm.
He peers curiously down at her waving stylus as she writes, glances at the pile of parchment beside her, then leans his head over to squint down at the small pile of completed paperwork.
Swift Wind: [resolutely] Mmm-hm.
He lifts his head up again and sweeps his gaze one more time over the entire tableau. Then he nods his head.
Swift Wind: [conclusively] Yeah this looks really boring.
Glimmer pauses and sighs heavily.
Glimmer: [with feeling] It really . . . is!
She returns to work with notable reluctance. With her free hand, she reaches up over her head to pat Swift Wind’s face.
Glimmer: [warmly] It’s nice of you to come check in on me, though.
Swift Wind grins at her attention, tilting his head as Glimmer starts to scratch his neck a little. She withdraws her hand after a couple moments, and Swift Wind straightens up and steps over to her side, bending down to put his muzzle near her ear.
Swift Wind: [softly] Loop-de-loops.
Glimmer frowns, perplexed.
Glimmer: Huh?
Swift Wind: You need some loop-de-loops! Come on! It’ll lift your spirits. Feed your inspiration!
Glimmer cracks a smile.
Glimmer: I’m pretty busy, Swift Wind. But, thanks.
Swift Wind steps away and looks into the air reflectively.
Swift Wind: Glimmer! Let me tell you a little story.
She glances over at him as he strikes a smart storytelling pose. He begins to strut back and forth.
Swift Wind: [nostalgically] One time, Adora was really frustrated by something she had to do. So we did some loop-de-loops. And she felt a lot better.
Suddenly, he stops and looks at Glimmer.
Glimmer looks at Swift Wind expectantly.
Swift Wind: [after a pause] That’s the story.
Glimmer: Oh.
She turns back to her parchment, finding her place again.
Glimmer: [giving part of her attention] Um . . . that reminds me. Where is Adora? I haven’t seen her all day.
Swift Wind hangs his head with a look of mild worry.
Swift Wind: [glumly] I don’t know.
He lifts his head, frowning in concern.
Swift Wind: [a little agitated] I can still feel her, a little, so . . . she can’t be all that far away. But . . . to be honest, Adora’s been a little . . . distant recently.
A voice comes from the doorway to the room.
Catra: [wryly] Tell me about it.
Glimmer and Swift Wind both turn to see Catra leaning with her back against the door-frame, a half-smile on her face, her arms crossed and her tail waving lazily back and forth behind her.
Swift Wind: [casually] Oh, hey, Catra.
Glimmer: [resignedly] You might as well come on in. I’m not getting much done anyway!
Catra saunters over, examining the sheets of parchment on her desk, looking from one to the other.
Catra: What’s all this?
Glimmer: Oh. Just paperwork. Nothing exciting.
Catra: Can’t you delegate it?
Glimmer: Unfortunately, no. They all need the signature of the queen.
Catra frowns slightly, still looking at the parchment.
Catra: [innocently] So?
Glimmer stares at her, eyebrow raised. Catra looks back at her blinking. Then she nods with sudden understanding.
Catra: Ohhhh. So you don’t . . . Right. Got it.
Swift Wind puts his nose between them, causing Catra to take a couple of steps back.
Swift Wind: [pointedly] Catra, do you happen to know where Adora is?
Catra smiles wide-eyed and innocent. Glimmer looks over to see her response.
Catra: Ah. Nnno. She’s . . . she went for a walk. I guess she wanted to be alone.
Swift Wind and Glimmer exchange a glance. Then, they stare skeptically back at Catra. She tenses at their interrogative looks.
Catra: [slightly nervously] What? How should I know? We, uh, . . . [casting an uncomfortable look downward] we had a little argument.
Swift Wind and Glimmer look at each other again and nod knowingly. Their expressions relax. Glimmer turns back to Catra.
Glimmer: [sympathetically] Ohh? What was it about?
Catra: [quickly] I don’t wanna talk about it.
Glimmer: [apologetically] Oh. Okay.
Glimmer lowers her head down into her work, alternately scribbling and softly groaning as Catra and Swift Wind watch.
After a few moments, Catra shakes her head.
Catra: [with symphathetic disgust] So . . . this is what queens do all day, huh?
Swift Wind: [with concern] I can’t believe this is healthy.
Glimmer heaves another sigh and then looks up at them helplessly.
Glimmer: I know! You’re right!
Glimmer falls forward in defeat, her face landing on the pile of parchment.
Glimmer: [through her squished face] It’s like being grounded all over again!
Swift Wind: [dryly] Except there’s no tea.
Glimmer: [exasperated] That’s right!
She flops her head to one side.
Glimmer: [sadly] And it’s not like I can just sneak out like I used to.
There is a pause.
Catra: Why not? You’re the queen.
Glimmer chuckles unhappily.
Glimmer: Ha! Because I can’t sneak out on myself! I mean . . .
Her eyes suddenly widen. She raises her head from the desk, a smile on her face.
Glimmer: [decisively] I am definitely sneaking out!
Swift Wind: [triumphantly] Loop-de-loop time!
Glimmer cheerfully drops her stylus on the desk.
Glimmer: This stuff can wait. None of it’s really urgent, anyway.
She jumps up and turns to Swift Wind, placing a hand on his shoulder. Catra’s eyes widen, and her ear twitches in curiosity.
Glimmer: Swift Wind! I need your help on a mission!
Swift Wind: [nodding with a smile] Where to?
Glimmer: Mystacor. My father and aunt have been working on restoring their connection to magic there. So, I’m hoping they’ll know how to help me and the other princesses! What do you say?
Swift Wind turns to offer his side to Glimmer, lifting his wing in invitation.
Swift Wind: I say, hop aboard! I’m ready when you are!
Beaming, Glimmer reaches up to Swift Wind’s mane. She pauses.
Frowning in thought, she comes to a decision.
Glimmer: [with slight reluctance] Mmmm-I’d better leave a note.
Glimmer quickly turns back to the desk and slides a small piece of blank parchment over, raising her stylus and leaning down to write.
Glimmer: [to herself] Dear General Juliet . . . I’m going . . . to Mystacor. Be back . . . later tonight. . . . Queen Glimmer!
With a look of satisfaction, she sets her stylus aside, positioning the note so that it will be easily seen on her desk. She turns to Swift Wind and reaches to grab his mane again.
Glimmer: Ready.
Swift Wind lowers his body to make it easier for Glimmer to swing her injured leg over his back, and she pulls herself up.
Once seated, she turns to Catra, reaching out her hand beckoningly.
Glimmer: Wanna come along?
Catra takes a step backward, with a conflicted expression. She fidgets with the crystal at her side.
Catra: Oh, . . . I don’t know. Shouldn’t I stay here? Cover for you, or something?
Glimmer raises an eyebrow and tilts her head to one side. She smiles ironically.
Glimmer: Cover for me, huh? Like you covered for Adora?
Catra tenses, scowling.
Catra: What?! I didn’t--! You--!
All at once, Catra relaxes and just sighs, shrugging.
Catra: Yeah. Whatever.
Glimmer: [reassuring] It’s all right, Catra! I’m not upset about it. I’m sure there’s a very good reason. [gently] And I’d like for you to come with us, if you want.
Catra searches Glimmer’s smiling expression.
Then, in spite of herself, she gives Glimmer a little smile in return.
Catra: Okay. Just . . . [she considers] Sure. I’ll come with you.
Catra takes a step forward, then pauses, turning to Swift Wind with a warning finger.
Catra: [sternly] But no . . . loopy-whatevers!
Swift Wind frowns at her. Then he tosses his head proudly.
Swift Wind: [casually] Fine.
Glimmer: Great! Let’s go!
She reaches down and grips Catra’s hand, giving her leverage to mount behind her.
Swift Wind turns toward the open window, taking a few steps back for a trotting start.
He tilts his head briefly back toward his passengers.
Swift Wind: [brightly] Besides, I know some other tricks, too!
Catra: [worried] What?! No! Don’t you dare!
Glimmer giggles as Swift Wind takes a running leap and glides through the window, spreading his wings widely into the wind.
