Welcome back to my story, everyone. 🙂
I'm really glad you're here!
I am dedicating this chapter especially to Kali ( @Kali Bradshaw ) because I can and because it's been absolute ages since I dedicated a chapter to them!
Kali, you are a good friend, and I hope you like this! 😊
The recap for Episode 68:
Adora slips away on her mission, but not without first having a conversation with her sleeping girlfriend! ( Part One)
Glimmer puts away childish ideas to reclaim her duties as monarch, and Bow needs a rest! (Part Two)
She-Ra searches the forest without success, until she takes a good look at herself. (Part Three)
Razz prepares for a guest, and Adora arrives at last! (Part Four)
Glimmer is saved from responsibility by two friends indeed! (Part Five)
Dueling realities thwart a tea party with Razz! (Part Six)
And now, are you sitting comfortably?
Because it's story time with the wise woman of the Whispering Woods. 😯
Enjoy!
The Whispering Woods tower majestically above Madame Razz as she nimbly makes her shuffling way amongst the trees. She moves with an uncommon grace and confidence for her apparent age, like a soft, strong breeze at one with the forest.
Adora walks beside her, hand in hand, looking wonderingly around herself.
But, through a small clearing and past another stand of tall trees, the light changes, and it is Mara, walking on Razz’s other side, being led by the hand and matching every three of Razz’s energetic steps with one long stride of her own. Mara surveys the scene with a curious but wary expression.
Mara: Where are we going, Razz?
Madame Razz: [reassuringly] It isn’t much further, dear.
Past a tree, with a flicker, now it is Adora accompanying Razz.
Adora: But, I still need to ask you about the magic.
Madame Razz: Magic! Yes! You will see!
She looks up encouragingly to Adora.
Adora sighs wearily. She looks downward as they walk along.
Adora: [all at once] The princesses have lost their magic.
Madame Razz looks to her left side, and Mara is there, looking down in despair.
Mara: [all at once] Everything seems out of control, Razz. I feel like I’ve lost myself.
Madame Razz looks forward, into the sunlight.
Madame Razz: [comforting] Lost? No. It isn’t lost at all. Nothing is ever lost.
Each of the women reply, but their voices come to Razz as if they are echoes.
Adora: [regretfully] Why am I the only one who still has it, then?
Mara: [sadly] Then, why am I suddenly so unsure?
They are passing through a clearing where a field of pink flowering grasses sway peacefully at calf-height. Razz smiles warmly.
Madame Razz: [to both of them, with intensity] Listen! Listen! I will tell you about zeh magic.
She closes her eyes, still walking, and she inhales deeply, as if breathing in the essence of the field. After a pause, she opens her eyes, and there is a clear, pure depth within them. In the heart of the depths are sparkles like distant stars. She speaks, and it is as if all the world is held in the depths of Razz’s eyes.
Madame Razz: [soothingly] Once . . . long . . . long ago, when even Madame Razz was younger, zhere was a seed, . . . a tiny seed, . . . smaller, . . . more powerful . . . zhan any other. Small enough to put zeh whole universe in your pocket. But powerful enough to move zeh stars.
The sparkles grow within the darkness, until they come together as one incredibly brilliant point.
Madame Razz: [reverently] And zhat seed was . . . magic.
As Adora and Razz turn to look into the vision of darkness, the bright point radiates waves of rainbow color in every direction.
Madame Razz: [chuckling] Oh, it was a hardy seed, too! And . . . patient. It needed only one special gift to begin to grow.
A pause magnifies the moment.
Madame Razz: [matter-of-fact, yet delighted] It needed love.
All at once, Madame Razz is laughing with joy. She continues through her laughter.
Madame Razz: [still giggling a little] I don’t think anyone knows where zeh love came from, but one day it came, and zeh seed began to grow!
In their shared vision, Madame Razz, Adora, and Mara witness a sort of silent, slow, multi-colored explosion, as light pours from the seed, filling the space all around them, illuminating them. Adora and Mara put out their free hands, and where they touch the light, their fingers sparkle!
Slowly the vision fades, and they are walking in the field again.
Madame Razz: [almost whispering in awe] Zeh seed grew, and it became one with Etheria, giving its magic to everything! And zeh magic became everything. And everything became zeh magic! Not a weapon! Not zeh destiny of a warrior! But life. It. Self!
All at once Madame Razz stops, before a hillside, where a rocky overhang leans out, and a small crystal waterfall cascades into a shallow pool.
As Adora and Mara survey the idyllic scene in wonder and awe, Madame Razz speaks to both of them.
Madame Razz: [emphatically] Etheria is now a part of you.
Ten thousand sparking rainbows shimmer within the clear stream of diving water.
Madame Razz: [smiling] You have lived . . . [a bit melancholy] . . . and died . . . for Etheria.
Madame Razz looks up at Adora, smiling at her.
Madame Razz: You cannot lose it. You cannot lose zeh magic!
She turns to look up at Mara, smiling.
Madame Razz: You cannot lose your self!
Mara smiles back. A small, sad smile.
Mara: [struggling with an emotion] I . . . I think I understand. [she pauses] But I still don’t know what to do.
Madame Razz looks to her right, and she sees Adora’s puzzled frown.
Adora: [considering] I don’t get it.
Madame Razz turns to look straight ahead, to the waterfall.
Madame Razz: [with finality] We are here.
Adora: [a sudden insight] But, does that mean . . . ?
She looks up, noticing the waterfall again.
Adora: [realizing] Wait a minute.
Mara follows Razz’s gaze, looking ahead.
Mara: [musing] That waterfall.
Adora: I know this place, and that waterfall wasn’t there before.
Mara: It’s new. Isn’t it?
Razz’s smile grows. She let’s go of Adora’s and Mara’s hands and gestures.
Madame Razz: It came from zeh storm. When zeh magic was finally released completely, it flooded zeh land and mingled with zeh water. Who knows how long zeh waterfall will last?!
She looks to Adora and then to Mara, putting a hand on each of their shoulders, urging them forward with a push.
Madame Razz: [urgently] Quickly! Quickly! Zhere is someone I want you to meet!
A thousand years ago, Mara takes a few steps forward, then looks back.
In the next moment, Adora steps forward, too, searching the waters and the surrounding land with her eyes.
Mara: [uncertain] Who is it, Razz?
Adora: [still looking] I don’t see anyone.
Razz waves her arms at them frantically.
Madame Razz: Go! Hurry! Time is eternal, and we don’t have all day!
Adora nods to Razz.
Adora: Okay.
She steps forward toward the waterfall, hesitating only a moment before stepping into the pool as if reluctant to disturb the ever-shifting waters.
Mara walks carefully over the rocks beneath the overhang, tilting her head upward as she steps behind and beneath the fall of water.
Looking around in the gentle darkness of the space behind the water, but finding no one, she turns to face the sheet of rushing water.
Adora steps to the center of the small pool, and with no one in sight, she stops to consider the expanse of water spilling over the cliff beside her.
And she sees someone.
Like a refection of herself, moving almost in synchronicity behind the crystal surface.
At first, the figure is indistinct, its features hidden and blurred by the refraction of light, but its form and characteristics become clear as it steps closer to the perfectly transparent sheet of water.
A tall woman dressed in blue and white, with a long cascade of brown hair bound in a braided ponytail.
Adora faces her in wide-eyed astonishment.
Adora: Mara?!
The figure locks eyes with her, a look of awe brewing on her face.
