She-Ra-tober Announcement Post
Fanfic #1: Rainbow
Fanfic #2: Tattoo
Fanfic #3: Evening
Fanfic #4: Purring
Fanfic #5: Leaf Pile
Fanfic #6: Sunset
Fanfic #7: Warm
Fanfic #8: Abandoned
Fanfic #9: Workout
Fanfic #10: Embarrassing
Fanfic #11: Drunk
Fanfic #12: Future
Fanfic #13: Canoe
Fanfic #14: Sleep
Give me a little rope, and this is the Day 15 fanfic you get!
Rope
In the pastoral village of Thaymor, peace and harmony reigned, just as it had always done.
Well . . . as it had almost always done.
A young mother and her fawn were strolling through the main village green, the place of gathering, market, and fair.
As they walked, they smiled at every passerby , friends and family all.
The fawn looked up in wonder as they stopped before the grandest dome-capped building she had ever seen.
She pointed up to a large coil of golden cording that hung above the door-frame, and her mouth gaped in wonder. "Mama, what's that?"
Her mother smiled. "That's what I wanted to show you!"
She reached down and picked up her little one, holding her high over her head for a better view.
"This . . . is the Rope of She-Ra! It is one of the most cherished heirlooms of our people!"
The little fawn blinked at it. "What makes it so special?"
"Ah, little one . . ." her mother began, setting her daughter down to sit with her on the ground under the eaves. "It was part of a great battle!'
The fawn's eyes widened. "The Battle of Thaymor?!! The one where She-Ra came back?!!"
The mother smiled. "No, my child. That battle was a long time ago. Before I was even born!" She paused. "But there was another battle in Thaymor. One that involved all of the princesses! I was a little girl then, but I remember it well!" Her eyes grew misty, with a faraway look. "It was a day of magic! And also a day of joyous victory!"
She pointed upward again, and her daughter followed her finger to look at the precious heirloom as her mother continued.
"And the Rope of She-Ra played an important role. Listen, sweet child! And I will tell you how it happened . . ."
------------------
Bow put a hand by his mouth and called out. "Okay, everyone! It's time!"
There was an immense excitement all throughout Thaymor, and the entire village was decorated with garlands of bright fragrant flowers and streamers of long, colorful fabrics!
There were paper lanterns and flags of every land waving from rooftops and trees alike, and the village and surrounding fields were filled with dancing revelers and giggling, running children!
It was the first big celebration that the people of Thaymor had enjoyed in many a year, and they felt a heightened feeling of joy and festivity.
For, this year, the Princess Alliance had granted the village of Thaymor the honor of hosting the Spring Princess Jamboree!
And what a time it was!
There were games and feasting, dancing and music, performances, stories, and all manner of wonders! It was a time for princesses and common people to mingle and enjoy one another's company in an atmosphere of high celebration!
At Bow's summons, the villagers all turned and trotted over, making a wide ring around the center of the field, whereon rested a rope stretched to its full length and adorned with a brilliant red ribbon at its center.
It was time for the crowning event: the Grand Royal Tug-Of-War!
Bow had a whistle around his neck. He blew it once to call for quiet.
He motioned to princesses and their companions to come forward, and they moved to the edges of the circle.
"All right, everyone! We're ready to begin the Royal Tug-Of-War! These are the rules!"
He held out a formal-appearing scroll and unrolled it to read.
"There will be two teams, made up of the princesses and their companions. Each team must stay on their own side of this ribbon."
He pointed to the ribbon at the center of the rope. "Holding the rope from each side. The rope must stay between the wooden stakes."
He indicated two pairs of parallel wooden stakes driven into the ground: about four feet apart, with one pair on each side of the ribbon. Bow continued.
"The war is decided in favor of the team that manages to pull the red ribbon between the pair of stakes on their side. The victorious team will receive a special trophy, presented by the mayor of Thaymor."
Bow pointed to a venerable gentleman with soft, friendly eyes and long gray ears. He was wearing a simple but elegant sash of office, and he was holding a beautiful large rustic trophy made of branches and flowers.
There were whoops and a round of applause.
After a moment, Bow continued. "In the interests of fairness and safety, the use of magic by the princesses will be forbidden during the game. Anyone who breaks that rule must excuse herself from the competition."
There were a few murmurs of disappointment.
Bow held up the whistle, as he looked at the princesses. "I'm the judge for this. If I blow my whistle and point to you, then you need to step away from your team and join the audience. Now, it's time to choose teams!"
Bow was about to select team captains, but it wan't necessary.
Adora strode determinedly forward and picked up the rope on the right side.
Catra immediately came forward to pick up the left side of the rope.
The two girlfriends stared each other down with matching smirks, and there were silent taunts in their eyes.
Glimmer was the next to step forward, joining Adora and thumping her on the back as she picked up the rope.
Frosta ran closely after Glimmer, taking a place beside her and staring gleeful daggers at the competition.
After that, Scorpia stepped up. She looked hesitantly from one side to the other, then set her jaw determinedly and made her way beside Catra.
Perfuma followed, taking her place close by Scorpia.
After that came Sea Hawk, strutting over to rejoin his old crew mates, Adora and Glimmer. For once, Mermista came along with him completely willingly, determined to have the one who could turn into an 8-foot tall lady with a sword on her side!
At that moment, Entrapta, her lab partner in tow, suddenly bounded up to join Catra's team, having decided to take an embedded approach for this particular research. She smiled at Wrong Hordak (Wink!) and readied her recorder.
Bow looked over at Spinnerella and Netossa, who were holding close to each other's sides contentedly. They smiled and shook their heads at Bow.
Bow counted the others and grinned happily. "Perfect! That's even teams!"
Just then, a voice rang through the air: "Did somebody say, 'SWIFT WIND!!"?"
And a winged horse descended to join Adora's team. He bent down and grasped the rope in his teeth, whipping his head to wrap it a few times around his muzzle for leverage. Adora's team now had its anchor.
Bow frowned. "Uhhh. I'm sorry, Swift Wind, but that makes it six against five, and . . ."
Catra interrupted him brazenly. "No need to stress about it, Arrow Boy. It's not a problem." And as she spoke a large catlike being shimmered into view and strode confidently to the back of the line, taking up the rope as Catra's anchor. Melog mirrored Catra's smug expression.
As the crowd around them buzzed in anticipation, Bow walked over beside the midpoint of the rope and lifted his whistle. "All right. Are both teams ready?"
"Ready," said Adora.
"Do it," said Catra.
Bow blew his whistle loudly. And so it began!
The battle was intense!
Catra and Adora dug in their heels, spitting good-natured minor insults at each other, and the central ribbon of the rope migrated no more than an inch or two in either direction as they struggled.
Frosta and Glimmer were the most fierce on Adora's team, each one with fire in her eyes.
The two of them together were countered by Scorpia's brute strength, although her heart wasn't exactly in it.
The ribbon inched closer to Adora's side, and Swift Wind made sure they didn't lose any ground.
As Entrapta got the hang of what was going on, she wrapped both her ponytails around the rope and pulled it toward her, mostly so she could see better what was going on at the other end.
Catra's team was now starting to win.
Their lead became even more acute when Mermista and Sea Hawk somehow got into an argument, and Adora and her crew were left straining and sweating to avoid defeat!
However, the tide turned again as Entrapta abandoned her footing entirely to climb up on the rope and stand there for a better view. It was all Melog could do to counter the opposing force, and its feet began to slip.
But suddenly, Bow's whistle blew.
Without thinking things through, Glimmer had momentarily teleported over beside Catra to blow a raspberry at her. With a sheepish look, she nodded to Bow and walked off to the sidelines.
Frosta then became upset and froze the rope to her fingers.
Bow's whistle blew again, and Frosta was taken off the team.
The crowds went wild!
For a few moments, Adora's team was really struggling.
Mermista whacked Sea Hawk on the back to return his attention to the game, and together they did their best to help Adora so that they just stopped the ribbon from crossing Catra's goal.
Catra was grinning -- except that Frosta had begun to cry, and Scorpia walked off to comfort her.
Now Catra was struggling.
Perfuma helpfully wrapped a vine around the rope to reinforce it.
So she was disqualified.
And Entrapta and her assistant had wandered off!
Catra was about to lose.
"Haha!" exclaimed Adora, but just then Sea Hawk, caught up in the moment of victory, lit a torch, which Mermista immediately extinguished.
"Ugghhhh!" Mermista stomped off, dragging Sea Hawk behind her, even before Bow could blow the whistle on her.
Now it was down to Adora and Swift Wind on one side, Catra and Melog on the other.
Adora and Swift Wind were groaning with the strain, while Catra and Melog growled fiercely.
In the heat of the moment, Melog doubled in size.
Just as Bow blew his whistle to eliminate Melog, the rope at Swift Wind's end snapped, and he tumbled backwards in a heap!
Now it was just Catra and Adora!
Their struggle was ferocious!
They seemed evenly matched, but they were exhausted!
It was only a matter of moments before one of them must succumb to the other!
They each began pulling in the rope, hand-over-hand, dragging each other inevitably closer to the center.
Finally, only a couple of feet separated them.
Panting, their eyes were locked in a shared steely gaze!
Catra grinned ever so slightly.
Then, she leaned forward and kissed Adora firmly on the lips!
Adora was suddenly enveloped in a brilliant golden light, and in a sparkling haze, She-Ra emerged, leaning into the kiss.
Bow blew his whistle in a long, loud blast!
Catra and She-Ra opened their eyes in surprise and parted.
"That's it! The tug-of-war is over! Catra's team wins!!"
The people of Thaymor errupted into a joyful round of applause, and the mayor stepped forward to present Catra with her prize.
Catra held it high and pumped her fist in victory.
She turned to She-Ra and cocked her head with a smile.
"Good game, but, ah, the trophy is mine!"
All at once, Catra was lifted high in the air and found herself being balanced on She-Ra's shoulder.
She-Ra beamed at her. "I've got my trophy, too!" She gave Catra a little wink.
Catra giggled at her.
"You're such an idiot!"