Hello, my dear, lovely readers and friends! 😊
This week's chapter introduces the heart 'n' soul of my Episode 68, and I have really been looking forward to this! 😃
The episode recap:
In Part One, a romantic morning sees Adora and Catra part for a time.
In Part Two, Bow helps Glimmer as she tries to recover her magic, but finds her responsibilities filling the gaps.
In Part Three, She-Ra may not be the one to find Razz.
In Part Four, Broom and Razz have a heartfelt conversation, and Adora discovers the hidden cottage in the woods.
And in Part Five, Swift Wind and Catra help to distract Glimmer in favor of a new adventure!
This chapter I'll dedicate especially for Jade ( @Jellybean Jade ).
She'll understand why, I think.
Thank you, Jade, for being a great friend and an inspiration. 😊
I think a lot of you might enjoy this week's surprise!
How many for tea? 😅
Read on to find out!
Madame Razz bustles about near a fire in a raised cooking stove. She scoops up some leaves and flower petals and pours them from her hand into the top of a battered and friendly-looking teapot. Then she grabs a towel and takes a steaming kettle from a grate over the fire, carefully pouring water over the leaves and petals in the pot. She sets the kettle down and smiles, the firelight reflecting in her glasses.
Madame Razz: [satisfied] It will be ready soon.
A voice calls out from outside her home, slightly muffled through her blanket door.
Voice: Raaazz? Are you there? I’m in trouble, and I need your help.
Razz beams as she turns toward the door.
Madame Razz: Adora! Come in! Come in! Zeh tea is almost ready!
A hand pushes aside the blanket, and a young woman steps through with a weary grin.
Woman: [relieved] Razz! I’m so glad I found you!
For a moment, Razz stares at the woman dressed in pale blue and white, puzzled. She takes a step forward and lifts her glasses, squinting at her visitor.
The tall woman puts one hand on her hip and tilts her head, causing her long, brown ponytail to swing a little. She gives a half-smile of concern.
Woman: Are you okay, Razz?
Razz blinks rapidly, then removes her glasses, muttering to herself.
Madame Razz: [chiding them] Zese glasses sometimes play tricks on me when I’m not looking. Don’t you?!
She looks at the glasses, shakes them briefly near her ear, then puts them back on. She turns back and smiles at the young woman with the red jacket at her door.
Madame Razz: [pleased] Ah! It is you, Adora!
Adora smiles back affectionately, stepping forward to meet Razz.
Adora: Yeah. It’s me!
Madame Razz throws her arms around Adora, and they share an enthusiastic embrace. Adora closes her eyes, tilting her head to lovingly rest on Razz’s wild mane of hair.
Adora: [with deep feeling] I knew I’d find you. I think you may be the only one who can help me.
Madame Razz pulls back and looks up at Adora with a grin.
Madame Razz: Oh, dearie, Madame Razz understands. But you can also just help yourself! To some tea! It’s ready now! Right there by the stove!
Adora looks over to the stove as Madame Razz turns and crosses to another part of the room. The stove is cold, the fire out. Adora takes a few steps toward it, searching, but there is nothing sitting beside it but some empty crockery and a few stray wooden utensils.
Adora: Um. Razz?
Razz is turned away from her, busily rummaging through a cabinet.
Madame Razz: [calling over her shoulder] I’ll get you a cup!
Adora looks back toward the stove, puzzled.
Adora: There isn’t any tea here.
Razz cheerfully extracts a simple ceramic teacup. It is charmingly plain and a tiny bit chipped. She looks at it as if it is gold.
Madame Razz: Ahhhhh! Here we are!
The old woman turns back toward Adora and shuffles over to her, handing her the teacup triumphantly.
Adora: Razz, there’s no tea.
Madame Razz: [happily] Nonsense, dearie! Here’s your cup! I’ll get your tea.
The moment she turns away, there is a strange flickering of her surroundings, and Madame Razz stops, surprised. She shakes her head and carefully picks up the teapot from beside the burning stove. She turns back toward Adora, but the taller woman in blue and white -- the one with the long, brown ponytail -- has taken her place.
They stare at each other a moment. Madame Razz blinks at her.
Madame Razz: [wonderingly] Mara? [she pauses] Where’s your teacup?
Mara shakes her head.
Mara: Razz. I don’t need any tea.
Madame Razz: [protesting] You can’t have any tea! [she smiles] Until we find you a cup!
Immediately, she sets the pot down and eagerly starts looking around the room again, humming.
Mara sighs.
Mara: [slightly frustrated] Razz, please. I need to talk with you about something. It’s important.
Razz is bent over a large chest, her upper body practically engulfed by it.
Madame Razz: [from the chest] It will be better with tea! You’ll see!
Razz begins to pull some things out of the chest, tossing them carelessly behind her back. A wad of rags . . . an old book with a purple cover . . . a small imp-like doll with blue hair and pointy ears.
Mara stands leaning with her back to the earthen wall, her shoulders slumped a little, a frown of worry on her face.
Mara: [shaking her head] I just don’t think so, this time.
She kneels down and picks up the doll, standing up straight and holding it away from her into the light shining through the doorway. For a moment she smiles at its cheerful expression. Then, she hugs it tightly to her chest, eyes closed, as if willing her sorrows to leave them be.
Mara: [with the faint foreshadow of a sob] I think this is really serious.
She lets go and gently takes the doll in one hand, letting it fall softly to the floor beside her.
Razz suddenly lifts her head, staring off into space with a stricken expression.
Madame Razz: It is very serious! [there is a moment’s pause] We have no cup!
A strange eerie flicker affects the entire room, as Razz turns again toward her guest.
Adora stands across the room, holding the teacup in both hands, a look of concerned bewilderment on her face.
Adora: [worried] Razz?
Madame Razz lights up in sudden relief!
Madame Razz: Oh! You’ve got it!
She shuffles over to Adora, who frowns deeper.
Adora: I don’t understand what’s going on.
Madame Razz: [brightly] Well, that’s all right! Now!
Razz turns toward the stove, about to reach for the pot, but the stove is dark, cold, and empty. Her eyes widen, then look mournful. Slowly, she turns back.
Madame Razz: [slowly] Adooora?
Adora looks down at Razz and tilts her head.
Adora: Yes. [troubled, insistent] It’s me, Razz!
The whole world around Razz begins flickering again, back and forth between two different times. One moment, Adora’s troubled concern, the next . . .
Mara: [frustrated, worried] It’s Mara.
Adora: [pleading] Please, Razz. I just need to ask you . . .
Mara: Can we forget about the tea for a minute?
Adora: . . . it’s about my friends . . .
Mara: Things have gotten more intense, and . . .
Adora: . . . and the magic . . .
Razz puts her hands to her lips, her eyes widening as she sees the world flicker back and forth.
Mara: . . . I don’t know what to do . . .
Adora: . . . there’s something wrong . . .
Mara: . . . They’re watching me, I know, and . . .
Adora: . . . they’ve lost their magic, but . . .
Mara: . . . you’re the only person I can turn to . . .
Razz’s fingers move to her cheeks, then her temples, as the images alternate faster.
Adora: . . . somehow, I . . .
Mara: . . . I trust you . . .
Adora: . . . it’s different with me . . .
Mara: . . . I knew you’d be able to help . . .
Adora: . . . I really need your help . . .
Mara: . . . help . . .
Adora: . . . help . . .
All at once, Madame Razz closes her eyes and grits her teeth, raising her hands up in little fists, she cries out with a strong voice.
Madame Razz: [resisting] Stop, stop, stop, STOP!!!
Opening her eyes slowly, two tears begin to trickle down.
Resting both hands on Mara’s shoulders, she gently pulls. Mara bends down towards her with wide, silent eyes.
They are practically nose to nose and Razz gazes at her kindly.
Madame Razz: [lovingly, with a pang of heartache] Oh, Mara, please. You know I can’t be in one place . . . at the same time.
She withdraws her hands and takes a step back, sighing with a deep breath.
Then, Madame Razz holds out her left hand.
Madame Razz: [patiently] Take my hand.
Mara gently places her hand in Razz’s, and Razz squeezes her hand firmly.
Madame Razz turns and looks to her other side. She holds out her right hand.
Madame Razz: [kindly] Come with me.
Adora takes her hand, smiling a little. She starts to set the cup down on the stove.
Madame Razz: [sharply] No!
Adora stills her hand.
Madame Razz: [with caring] Take your cup with you.
Adora picks up the cup again, holding it carefully.
Holding both hands, which by turns seem solid and firm, then ghostly and ephemeral, Madame Razz leads the way out of her hovel. The two women quietly accompany her, each apparently unaware of the other.
