Mermista

That feeling when you're having a good time with your girlfriends, and all of a sudden one of them just up and throws your clingy guy friend into your arms.

I don't usually write romance, especially straight romance, nor do I usually write anything very serious about these particular characters. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about the content of this, though I think I did a pretty good job with the execution.

This is old; I wrote it back in like... March 2023? There's a chance you've seen it before, since I posted it on Ao3 back then, but for some reason I never shared it on this wiki.

(@/BrianSturgill, I put off reading your fanfic in early 2023 to work on this, so that I wouldn't be influenced by it and end up stealing ideas from you, consciously or not.)

I edited this a bit this November, but it's basically the same story as it was originally. There are more things I'd probably do differently if I were writing it from scratch now, but I didn't want to completely rewrite it.

So, anyway, here it is.

(I don't have time to look over this again so I'm hoping I didn't leave any silly typos or anything ahaha-)

After Horde Prime was defeated, all the princesses went back to their home kingdoms for a break, but Mermista’s kingdom was still in ruin.

She stands in front of the broken Sea Gate. Maybe She-Ra can, like, fix it with her magic? But the stone gate itself is smashed; that would have to be fixed first.

The Gate had stood for a thousand years, but of course now, when she was in charge, everything just had to fall apart.

Sea Hawk stands next to her, puts his hand on her shoulder. He came back with her, obviously. Like, he’s the one with the boat to take her there. And… everything.

After a moment, Mermista takes a deep breath — managing to make her exhale sound annoyed — and says, “Let’s go.” They pass through the gate, into Salineas.

They walk through the ruined city, their footsteps echoing loudly through the empty streets. I mean, I guess it’s good that the place is empty. It means everyone managed to evacuate. It was empty like this before, a few years ago, that time the Sea Gate had started to fall apart. Only that time, the whole kingdom hadn’t been wrecked…

The once-beautiful kingdom of Salineas, now riddled with gaping holes and piles of charred rubble. It’d be nice to be home after so long, if home weren’t so completely destroyed.

There are Horde banners everywhere. Seriously, it’s kinda ridiculous. Like, we get it, you conquered the kingdom, did you really need this many flags to make your point? As they pass one, Sea Hawk pulls out his matches and sets the banner aflame. They watch it burn, as Mermista remembers watching Salineas burn at the Horde’s hands, and she’s filled with burning hatred for the Horde and everything they’ve done.

But they’re gone now. The Rebellion won in the end, and the Horde has been defeated. The banner is reduced to ash. They’re gone. It’s over. And Mermista’s too tired to stay that angry.

They still left a huge mess behind, though. Now basically the whole kingdom needs to be rebuilt. It’ll take forever. Ugh. Super inconvenient. Mermista had better find Salineas’s citizens soon, let them know the Horde’s finally gone. But not today; they seriously only just won, like, not even a day ago, and she’s still totally exhausted. And if she’s tired, then it’s impressive Sea Hawk is still standing. He’s gotta be pretty beat up; she threw him around a lot in that fight. “Fight”… he hadn’t actually fought her, just avoided getting killed while he distracted her. He was so annoying, he’d managed to annoy her even through the mind control.

She wonders if she should, like, apologize for what she did fighting him like that. But no. It hadn’t really been her, she was chipped, it was all Prime’s fault. And Prime’s gone. And his chips are gone.

Sea Hawk had obviously been disappointed when she told him she still wasn’t sure about, like, their relationship. Her feelings. Whatever. But come on, she’d just woke up from being mind controlled, and the Horde had just fallen and there was lots going on, and she did not want to deal with this right now. And her feelings are so confusing, and ughhhh. Feelings are stupid. It was so much easier to just be annoyed with him.

He obviously is super annoying sometimes. But ugh, he’s not just annoying. That’s the problem. Still, with all that’s happened, she’s glad to have him here now.

They walk mostly in silence for a while, but Sea Hawk does ask her how she’s doing. She shrugs. What is there to say? “This isn’t exactly the most fun ever, but at least it beats being mind controlled.” She tries to sound casual, snarky and deadpan as usual, but Sea Hawk isn’t fooled.

Still, he at least doesn’t ask her about the mind control. She does not feel like talking about that. Instead he says, “Perhaps a SONG would lighten the mood?”

“No.” That was better. More normal.

“Or I could sing something more somber, if you’d rather.”

“Still no.” She rolls her eyes. “No shanties.” She could keep this up all day, but Sea Hawk doesn’t say anything more.

Eventually, they arrive at the castle. “Well, it’s not completely destroyed,” Mermista says, half-sarcastically. One of its towers is reduced to rubble, and there’s a large hole in one wall. But the rest of it is still intact, apparently. Still livable?

“We can rebuild,” Sea Hawk says. “We will RESTORE SALINEAS to its FORMER GLORY!”

Mermista gives a tired half-smile, a faint smirk. “Sure we will.”

Looking around the castle, the throne room appears mostly untouched — there’s just a Horde banner hung lazily over the throne. (There are way less Horde banners the further into the kingdom you get. Like, did they use up all their banners right out front, and run out by the time they got this far?) Sea Hawk pulls out his matches, but Mermista stops him. “Can you not burn the castle down? It doesn’t need to be more destroyed.”

“Of course. But I’m sure it wouldn’t get out of hand like that.”

Mermista rolls her eyes. “Ugh, fine. Go ahead.” There’s plenty of water around to use if she needs to, and she would like to see the banner destroyed somehow.

“Brilliant!” He grins as he lights the fire, and watches the flames engulf the flag. Mermista watches too, deadpan, one eyebrow raised, ready to put the fire out if necessary. She doesn’t usually love watching things set ablaze like he does, but she does like seeing the Horde burn.

They’ll destroy the rest of the old Horde flags around Salineas soon. Tomorrow, maybe. When she’s less tired.

“Do I, ah, stay here?” Sea Hawk asks.

“Yeah, sure,” Mermista says. “It’s empty anyway. I’ll find you a room. Just don’t set anything on fire.”

Most of the spare bedrooms are near the destroyed parts, so she leads him to an empty room in the undamaged part of the castle. Technically, it’s her dad’s room, but he hasn’t been there in years, and none of his stuff is even in it. He moved to some little island for his retirement, and didn’t even bother to, like, come check in with her or anything after their kingdom fell. Suuuper helpful.

She’s glad Sea Hawk’s staying. He’s loud, and takes up space, and makes the castle less empty.

They arrive at the door to the room. Sea Hawk’s reaching to open it, when Mermista interrupts. “Hey.” She meets his eyes briefly. “Thanks.” She glances away. Thanks for what? There’s so much she could mean. “For, like… being here, or whatever.” She groans. This is stupid. “Ugh, I dunno.” Feelings are annoying. She can feel her face turning red. “I- Everything’s been kinda a mess, and-” Ugh, why does this have to be so hard? “I’m glad I don’t have to deal with it alone.”

He puts his arm around her shoulder, smiling his obnoxious sweet smile. “Of course, Princess. I will be here for you, rain or shine, whatever you need.”

Mermista rolls her eyes, but smirks at him affectionately. “Uh-huh.” There’s more she could say… She opens the door, and ushers him into the room. Before the door closes, though, she adds one more thing. Her voice is quiet, her tone trying to be casual, no big deal, and her eyes avoid his.

“I love you.”

Sea Hawk looks stunned. Briefly flustered, he quickly grasps for words to reply, but before he can say anything (yuch, the conversation would be so awkward for her) she cuts him off with a kiss.

She pulls away abruptly, and turns on her heel, hiding her flushed face. “’Night,” she says, already walking off down the hall, blushing furiously. Sea Hawk is left standing in the doorway, watching her go.

“Good night, dearest.”

Mermista heads to her room, thoroughly embarrassed. Did she seriously do that? Still, she doesn’t regret it, really. She knows it’s true, what she said. Ugh, Sea Hawk will probably want to talk about it more tomorrow. But whatever, that’d be annoying and awkward and embarrassing for her, but she guesses she can deal with it. Or maybe she won’t have to deal with it, if they’re busy dealing with everything else. Like rebuilding her kingdom and finding her people and everything.

She looks out her bedroom window at the city around her. It’s dark outside the window — darker than it’s been in a while, with no one there to have lights on — but the moons are bright enough that she can still make out most of the view. It all looks so familiar, but so wrong, too. There’s the winding roads and round shell-shaped buildings as always, and there’s the gaping cracks in the middle of streets and the caved-in walls of houses.

She changes into her pajamas, and collapses into bed, exhausted. It’ll take forever to find everyone, and to rebuild everything. She’s not even sure if it all can be fixed. Or how long it’ll be until everyone can actually come home, how long until they all have homes to come back to.

But, like… at least she won’t have to deal with it alone.

My main thread: here

TW: mentions of death

Oh man, this took several hours and a lot of nail-biting to write... But I had fun with it.

This probably could use editing, but I don't have time for that tonight ahaha.

⸻

It was not really a dark and stormy night when they arrived at the house; more of a dim and cloudy evening.

They’d been debating the existence of ghosts. While no one (besides maybe Scorpia) believed Sea Hawk’s tale of a harrowing encounter with a ghost ship, it was Entrapta who launched into an explanation of how there was no scientific evidence for ghosts. Sea Hawk insisted they were real, and that he would prove it.

The Best Friend Squad chose not to come; Glimmer, Adora, Bow, and Swift Wind felt their trip to Alwyn was all the ghost-hunting they needed. But Sea Hawk took Entrapta, Scorpia, Mermista, Perfuma, and Frosta to Darcliffe Manor.

The manor stood on the cliffs over a lonely stretch of coastline, miles from the nearest village. It once belonged to a wealthy family, but had sat abandoned for decades, if not—as Sea Hawk said—over a century.

“Why they left, no one knows,” Sea Hawk told the group. “Some say the place was cursed. Three of their children met untimely deaths there, and the father mysteriously vanished. Everyone who has tried to stay there since has fled in terror. Ghostly whispers, footsteps with no one to make them, mysterious orbs of glowing light. And that’s according to those lucky enough to make it out alive…”

“Hang on,” Mermista interrupted. “Uh, how do you know this? Like, you ‘know’ that these children ‘met untimely deaths,’ but you don’t, like, know any of these people’s names?”

Sea Hawk frowned.

“Yes,” said Entrapta, “where is this information coming from? Do you have any sources? Who are the witnesses? Of course, eyewitness accounts are notoriously unreliable-”

“That’s assuming he didn’t just make the whole thing up,” said Mermista. “Who knows if anyone saw anything at all.”

“Of course I know their names,” Sea Hawk said indignantly. “It’s Darcliffe Manor; they were the Darcliffe family.”

“Uh-huh.” Mermista and Entrapta looked unimpressed.

“And it is haunted,” Sea Hawk continued, “as you’ll see.”

Dubious as Sea Hawk’s claims may have been, the manor did cut a foreboding figure. While nothing compared to the princesses’ palaces, it stood tall for a mere two and a half stories, and the large porch with ornate pillars and the turret on one side gave it an air of grandeur. And with the weatherbeaten walls and crooked shutters, it certainly looked like it could be haunted.

As they stepped onto the porch, Perfuma said with an uncomfortable smile, “Um, are you sure this is a good idea? Even if the stories are true… Should we really be disturbing these people’s home—what might be their final resting place?”

“They’re dead,” said Mermista. “It’s not like they mind.”

“It just seems… disrespectful…”

Sea Hawk was already opening the door, which was apparently unlocked. “Onward! Adventure!” And he stepped inside.

Entrapta walked inside after him, and with a shrug, Mermista followed. Perfuma, Scorpia, and Frosta exchanged nervous glances, then entered as well.

It was dark inside; most of what little light the setting moons provided couldn’t get through the grimy windows. Sea Hawk lit a torch, and Entrapta turned on a headlamp.

Entrapta pulled out her recorder. “Ghost hunting log, hour one. House appears in a state of disrepair. Probably abandoned for some time…”

The door slammed shut behind Scorpia, and everyone startled.

They stood in a dusty entryway. To their right was a closed door, to the left, an empty doorway. in front of them was a stairwell, and next to the stairwell a dark hall.

Frosta looked around anxiously. “Is everyone sure about this? Because… maybe we could turn back now…”

“What, are you scared?” Mermista smirked.

“No!” said Frosta. “Of course not. I don’t believe in ghosts, remember?”

Scorpia swallowed. “Are you sure? ‘Cause, uh, I don’t know…” She turned to Sea Hawk. “Hey, didn’t you say something about people not making it out of here?”

The house creaked ominously.

Mermista eyed the ceiling. “Forget about ghosts; are you sure this place won’t, like, collapse on us at any second?”

Entrapta shone her headlamp on the floor. “There appear to be footprints in the dust here.”

“Ghost footprints?” asked Scorpia.

“Ghosts are generally described as incorporeal, and may not have the physical presence necessary to leave tracks… The simple explanation is that they come from a person.”

“But… I thought no one had been here in here in years,” said Frosta.

“This would make a pretty good hideout for like a serial killer,” Mermista mused.

Perfuma gulped. “Or maybe it’s a perfectly nice person just looking for somewhere to stay!”

An eerie moan sounded from somewhere above them. Scorpia yelped, Mermista tensed, and Perfuma, Frosta, and Sea Hawk gasped—Sea Hawk most dramatically.

“Sound appears to emanate from somewhere upstairs,” Entrapta muttered into her recorder. “Likely from the same being as left the footprints…” She followed the tracks with the beam of her headlamp, showing that they led up the stairs. “Well, time to investigate!” And she cheerfully climbed the stairs after the footprints.

The others followed her hesitantly.

“M- Maybe we could investigate the downstairs first?” Frosta suggested.

“All signs point to something being up here; it doesn’t make sense to start anywhere else,” said Entrapta.

“Maybe whatever it is left?” said Scorpia.

“There aren’t any tracks leading back down. Unless it went out another way, it’s still up there.”

There was another moan.

Entrapta held up a tablet. “This shows two energy signatures coming from somewhere up here.” She was nearly at the top of the stairs now.

“Ghost energy?” said Scorpia.

“I knew it!” exclaimed Sea Hawk.

“Inconclusive. It could easily be from some other known entity…” Just then, the tablet’s screen went blank. Entrapta tapped at the screen, and a no battery symbol flashed across it. “Oh, shavings,” she swore. “I must’ve forgotten to charge it…”

A third moan.

“Oh dear, well, since your device is dead, I guess we’d better leave so you can charge it!” said Perfuma. “What a shame!”

“Nonsense!” said Sea Hawk. “We came here for ghosts, and ghosts we shall find!”

They heard a door slam somewhere nearby, and Sea Hawk shrieked.

“The energy signatures appeared to be coming from one of those rooms.” Entrapta gestured to some of the doors on the left hand side of the hall. “We can search them faster if we split up…”

“I’d really rather not,” said Perfuma, and Scorpia and Frosta nodded vigorously.

“Still not scared?” Mermista tried to tease Frosta, but couldn’t keep the waver out of her own voice.

Entrapta was already opening the closest door. Mermista and Scorpia peered inside.

“Looks like some kind of nursery,” said Mermista. From what they could see, there was a crib against one wall, and a shelf with children’s toys on it.

“Aw, look, there’s a doll,” said Scorpia.

Mermista frowned at the porcelain doll. “Creepy.”

Entrapta walked inside while everyone else gathered in the doorway. A floorboard creaked when she stepped on it, and Sea Hawk yelped and grabbed Mermista’s arm. (Mermista startled, then snapped, “Watch it. You’ll burn the house down.”)

After scanning the room and checking the closet, Entrapta headed back to the door. “Nope, no sign of any beings here.”

Perfuma had stepped into the room, and picked the doll up off of the shelf. “This place is… sad, isn’t it? I do feel a… a sort of energy here. The presence of whoever lived here… Why were these toys left behind? What happened to the child they belonged to?”

Frosta looked around uncomfortably. “Let’s check a different room.”

As if on cue, another moan reverberated through the house.

Entrapta was already looking in the next room down. “Well, nothing in here, either.” As another moan sounded, louder and deeper than the ones before it, she said, “It seems to be coming from the next room over.”

Everyone gathered in front of the next door, behind which, it was now clear, was the source of the now-ceaseless moan.

Sea Hawk put his hand on the doorknob. Everyone stared at the door. You could almost hear the dramatic music accompanying everyone’s bated breath.

With a sharp inhale, Sea Hawk flung the door open.

The moan paused. There, in the middle of the room, maybe six feet away from them, stood a figure.

It could loosely be described as humanoid, with a dark purple body and a head covered in a filmy blue shape. All it had for a face were two glowing blue eyes.

The figure glided slowly towards them, now emitting a low humming sound.

Someone screamed—probably several someones. The thing got closer and closer. Everyone turned and ran. Down the hall, down the stairs, out the door.

Everyone, that is, except Entrapta.

She was pulling out her recorder to take notes, when she heard stifled laughter from the corner near the bed. But she was too busy with the creature to investigate that right away. Instead, she began describing it into her recorder; as she did so, the laughter stopped.

“What are you?” she said to the creature. “You don’t resemble classic descriptions of ghosts, and you seem… strangely familiar…”

“Entrapta?” Something—someone—rose from the shadows near the bed.

Entrapta turned, shining her headlamp directly at the thing—person—who shrieked and covered her eyes.

“Catra! What are you doing here?”

Catra looked away from the blinding light, rubbing her eyes. “Watch where you point that thing.”

“We were here investigating an alleged haunting, and discovered this strange entity. Do you know anything about it?”

“You know Melog.” The entity shifted into the form of a feline, and Catra walked over and patted it; it meowed and rubbed its head against her affectionately. “And I know why you’re here.” She grinned. “Pretty good prank, huh?”

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

Fanfic #15: Rope

Fanfic #16: Kiss

Fanfic #17: Robots

Fanfic #18: Aquarium

Fanfic #19: Grandparents

Fanfic #20: Suit

Fanfic #21: Heart of Etheria

Fanfic #22: Prisoner

Fanfic #23: Roman Empire

Fanfic #24: Cuddle

Fanfic #25: Music

Fanfic #26: Enemies

For this Day 27 fanfic, it's time to stay up late with the cool kids!

Cosplay

The ice slides turned out to be a big hit at the sleepover!

They stretched from one end of the throne room to the other, passing each other and weaving in crazy curves along the way.

Netossa and Spinnerella were having a turn at the moment, zooming in from the opposite directions and sharing a high-five as they passed a point in the middle where the slides came close together!

Perfuma and Scorpia were chatting and laughing, waiting for their turn.

And Entrapta was making a careful study of the slides (with calculations concerning their friction coefficients), taking occasional breaks to refuel on tiny snacks.

Beneath them, there were tables loaded with food, as well as areas for games. Bow and Swift Wind were playing a ring-toss game. Adora, Catra, Glimmer, and Sea Hawk were competing at the Limbo to some upbeat music, while Mermista looked on, munching on a kelp-kabob.

There were beanbags and pillows scattered around the floor.

After her turn at Limbo, Glimmer stopped and looked around, frowning. "Did anyone see where Frosta went?"

She felt a sudden tug on her cape and turned the other direction to find Frosta looking up and grinning at her.

"Hey, Glimmer! I've got something really cool to show you! Come on!"

Glimmer followed her curiously out of the throne room and into a small adjoining room where there was a screened-off portion.

Frosta put a hand up. "You stay here. No peeking!"

Glimmer nodded. "Okay." And Frosta disappeared behind the screen.

After a couple of minutes, Frosta emerged with a self-satisfied smile.

Glimmer gaped! Then she laughed.

"Wow! You're a mini-me!"

"Yep!"

Frosta was wearing a version of Glimmer's entire outfit! From the gem nestled between her collar-bones down to her boots.

And she was wearing a pink and lavender wig dotted with sparkles.

"Just wait, though," she said, motioning Glimmer over, "It gets better!"

Glimmer grinned with understanding.

Over in the grand party room, Adora was offering a hand to Catra, who lay scowling on the floor under the Limbo bar. Catra swatted Adora's hand away in annoyance. "This is a stupid game," she insisted.

Catra arched her back and sprang up to her feet as Sea Hawk, standing nearby, was literally wiping sweat from his forehead with his bandana, evidently relieved by the outcome.

"Who's winning?" came a bright voice beside them.

"Sea Hawk's about to lose," Mermista explained.

Sea Hawk was quick to object. "My darling exaggerates, Glimmer. I -- " and he glanced over again in a double-take. "I mean, . . . Frosta??"

Frosta giggled. Glimmer stepped up beside her in a slightly-upscaled version of Frosta's fur-lined jacket and boots of slate blue, with dark blue short hairstyle to match. "Clearly I'm Frosta! Can't you see that?!"

Glimmer struck a pose. "Ice fists!"

Frosta moved up beside her, putting her hands out in a fighting pose. "Sparkle powers!"

"Why are you doing that?" asked Catra dryly.

Adora elbowed her good-naturedly in the ribs. "'Cause its fun, Catra!" she scolded. Turning toward Glimmer and Frosta she gestured to their outfits, and giggled. "That's really good, guys!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Glimmer, somewhat indignantly. She turned and continued. "Do you, Glimmer?"

"Nope. Not a clue, Frosta!" She put a hand to her mouth, stifling an amused smile.

"Well!" remarked Glimmer finally. "I believe I should go check and see how my other guests are doing." She turned on her heel and motioned for Frosta to follow.

"Yes, Frosta! I think I'll come with you!"

Glimmer and Frosta could hardly contain themselves as they surprised each of Frosta's guests in turn!

Perfuma immediately played along, which made Scorpia question her senses momentarily.

Entrapta wasn't fooled for a moment, but she didn't even seem to notice or care that Glimmer and Frosta were dressed as each other!

Spinnerella couldn't stop laughing, and Netossa shook her head, smiling at the joke.

Swift Wind noticed the difference, and he examined Glimmer very closely before asking her in all seriousness, "Something different about your hair, right?"

Bow's reaction was their favorite, as he startled strongly when he first saw Frosta as Glimmer!

After that, the party took a different, and much sillier, turn!

Swift Wind pulled his mane back and made a poof out of his forelock, then strutted around very seriously and refused to relax!

Shortly after that, Bow somehow was wearing Sea Hawk's jacket, swinging from the ceiling and yelling, "ADVENTURE!!!" while Sea Hawk tore off the lower portion of his shirt and began to sing about friendship!

Entrapta happily swung after Bow, speaking rapidly into her recorder!

Catra and Adora managed to switch tops while no one was looking, and from that point on, they just ran around chasing each other, stealing Adora's jacket back and forth, and laughing riotously!

Spinnerella and Netossa joined Mermista on some beanbag cushions with snacks, and the three of them watched all the antics.

And Scorpia and Perfuma hugged each other close, squealing and laughing all the way down the ice slides!

Glimmer and Frosta stayed in costume for the rest of the night, even as things wound down and everyone got cozy and relaxed.

In a quiet moment, Mermista turned to Sea Hawk and nodded toward their outfit-swapped friends.

"Ya know . . ." she began hesitantly, lowering her voice, "it might actually be . . . kinda fun . . . for you and me to try that some time."

And Sea Hawk replied with a soft, but enthusiastic:

"Adventure."

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

Fanfic #15: Rope

Fanfic #16: Kiss

Fanfic #17: Robots

Fanfic #18: Aquarium

Fanfic #19: Grandparents

It's my Day 20 fanfic.

This is gonna be a bit silly . . .

Suit

There are many mysterious questions one could ask about suits, gentle reader.

Ponder, for instance:

If Catra had not worn that suit to Princess Prom, would Adora still have fallen for her?

Or . . .

Had Entrapta been unable to whip up a set of functional spacesuits (almost instantly out of literally nothing), would Bow have been able to rescue Glimmer?

Or even . . .

What ever happened to Hordak's old armored bio-suit once he was reunited with Horde Prime?

There are other such questions, of course.

But what makes these questions so pertinent to this story is the fact that every one of them was absolutely the furthest thing from Mermista's mind as she closed the novel she was reading and leaned back on her seashell throne with a smile of satisfaction.

"I knew it," she proclaimed proudly to herself.

The title of the book was Mer-mystery: The Missing Wet Suit, and this is what was on Mermista's mind:

"I wonder how it would have gone if me and Sea Hawk had been the detectives."

She began to picture it . . .

---------------

We had tracked the murderer down to a night club in Seaworthy.

It was a little dive called the Spiny Urchin, known for rough customers and high-stakes gambling.

Neither Sea Hawk nor I knew who we were looking for, but a tip from Myrna the Mystic had told us it would have something to do with a "wet suit."

Inside the joint, there were lots of shady characters wearing suits, but none of them were wet . . . yet.

I guided Sea Hawk to one of the gaming tables, and before long he was playing cards with four of the scurviest-looking suit-wearers in the place.

I stood by his side, where I could easily watch the other players, pretending to be his "good luck charm."

I began to size up the other players: a porpoise, a sea elf, a cephalopod, and a shark.

The shark was boisterous and threatening, but I could tell he wasn't our guy.

Too obvious.

The cephalopod was inscrutable, and he clearly had something to hide.

The porpoise, on the other hand was sweet and guileless. A real noob. I didn't trust him, but he seemed harmless enough.

And the sea elf was quiet and looked uncomfortable. She kept adjusting her collar and seemed to be sweating the whole time.

Sea Hawk was putting on the charm, whistling little shanty tunes as he tossed in his ante. He was being really careless.

As usual, I admired and felt like strangling him at the same time!

He was doing pretty good, winning back a little more than he lost.

Then things got serious, and I could tell that the one we were after was about to slip up. They always do eventually.

On this one particular hand, everyone at the table felt confident, and the bets got raised higher and higher, until Sea Hawk reached into his pocket and pulled out the deed to our ship!

I put my hand down to stop him, but then he showed me his cards: four anchors. If the next card he drew was another anchor, Sea Hawk would win the hand, and then the one who had led us on this chase would reveal themself!

I knew that Sea Hawk had been counting cards, so he must have been pretty sure of himself. I let him throw in the deed.

He drew his next card . . . and it was a starfish! We were sunk!

The murderer had obviously fixed the game!

Luckily, Sea Hawk didn't give anything away. He kept whistling with that same dopey expression on his face.

When it came to show hands, Sea Hawk lost, of course, and the winner reached for the deed.

So! The shark was the murderer after all! How unexpected!

The shark looked at the deed and pointed to a line at the bottom.

"You gotta sign it over to me. Do it now!"

Sea Hawk picked up the deed and then fumbled in his pockets. "Oh. Hmmm, where is my pen?"

And he gave me the secret signal, meaning he wanted a distraction.

I wasn't feeling too inspired, so I just put a hand on Sea Hawk's shoulder and pushed him off his chair.

"Oh, nooo!" I wailed, "I think he fainted!"

The shark and the porpoise stood up and started drawing their swords.

I guess they were working together!

"I, uh, . . ." I picked up Sea Hawk's drink. "I'll try reviving him with a splash of this!"

I pivoted toward Sea Hawk, but then quickly turned back and threw the drink in sharky's face. For good measure, I used a little magic to douse everyone at the table with their own drinks.

That's when I pulled Sea Hawk off the floor and dragged him out the window with me.

Sea Hawk started climbing up onto the roof, yelling, "Adventure!!!" 'cause he's like that. I followed him, 'cause he was my ride.

When we reached the edge of the roof, I looked down and saw that the shark, the porpoise, and the cephalopod (he was working with them, too?!!) were climbing up after us with murder in their eyes.

But, I mean, what else would you expect from murderers?

Sea Hawk started kicking shingles off the roof, raining them down onto their heads. That seemed to work, and it looked kind of fun, too. So I joined him.

I looked at Sea Hawk. "Wow, this roof is in really bad shape! And also, now where do we go?"

"Back inside!" Sea Hawk suggested cheerfully. "I saw somethi---woah!!!"

That's when we accidentally broke through the roof and landed on the card table again!

I felt a little dizzy, but we were okay. "Well, that was easy! So, what were you saying? You saw something?"

"Yes! When I was under the table, I noticed this!" Sea Hawk announced proudly, and he reached under the table and brought out an envelope that had been glued there. He handed it to me.

I opened up the envelope and pulled out 5 cards. They were all anchors! "Hey, it's the missing suit! And the cards are all wet!"

I blinked at Sea Hawk. "This was where that sea elf was sitting. She must have sweat all over these cards when she took them from the deck. That means she's the murderer!"

The case was solved!

And after that, I mean, there's not a lot more to say.

We raced for the dock, where we found the murderer making her getaway.

Then Sea Hawk set our boat on fire.

And she got away on her boat.

--------------

Mermista nodded to herself.

"Yeah, that's probably how it would work out."

She shrugged and picked up the next Mer-Mysteries book.

My main thread: here

This seemed like a good chance to draw one of my favorite looks in the show...

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!"

My other She-Ra-tober posts: linked here

Messy drawing/comic with lyrics from an Olivia Rodrigo song.

(Apologies for the image quality. Might try and get a better photo tomorrow when it's actually light out.)

She-Ra-tober Announcement Post

Fanfic #1: Rainbow

Fanfic #2: Tattoo

For your enjoyment: my Day 3 fanfic!

Evening

Sea Hawk was beaming and a bit breathless, given the circumstances.

"A-haaaaa! Mer-- Mermista! On this-- fine evening, what a-- what a delight it is to-- to walk you home!"

In fact, he almost had to run to keep up with her.

But, somehow, he managed to make the awkward half-jog/half-stumble seem jaunty and carefree, like a jig.

Mermista only quickened her gait.

"Why are you still here?!?" she seethed, casting a side-eye at his silly, grinning face, just as they arrived at her door.

Sea Hawk leaned casually against the door post and gestured to her.

"Where else would I be, with such a fascinating and charming companion on our first and most magnificent date?!!" His eyes could barely contain their sparkle!

"Ex-date!" Mermista snapped turning toward him. "And it was our last ex-date, not the first. We're done here. Good night."

She turned to enter the door.

"So, I hear the Dolphin Social is coming up," Sea Hawk bubbled.

Mermista paused. "No."

"You'll be going, of course." Sea Hawk wiggled his eyebrows.

"Maybe. I mean, no."

"Wonderful! Shall we meet at seven, then?"

Mermista shrugged. "Sure." Then her eyes widened. "Er-I mean . . . are you insane? Do you even remember what happened tonight?"

Sea Hawk nodded, "I shared the most rare and wonderful evening of my life with the most noble and captivating person and princess I have ever had the privilege to meet."

Mermista raised an eyebrow. "Really?" she questioned skeptically.

"Yes."

She nodded, noncommittally. "Uh, huh."

She turned again toward the door and halted a moment.

"I . . . might go to the social," she conceded without turning back, then quickly entered and closed the door behind her.

Outside, Sea Hawk pivoted on his heel and sauntered away, whistling happily.

Within, Mermista flung herself onto her bed, heedless of the damp from her soaking (and slightly charred) gown.

"Uggghhhhh," she groaned into the pillows.

Lying there, she reflected on the night's events.

The walk through the garden park was . . . peaceful.

The moons overhead were . . . gorgeous.

The restaurant was . . . fabulous.

The food was . . . delicious.

The Tunnel Of Love was . . . sweet.

The gondola ride was . . . serene.

The shanty was . . . sort of cute . . . sort of annoying.

The torchlight was . . . mesmerizing.

The boat catching fire was . . . startling . . . and terrifying!

The desperate dive into the water was . . . thrilling . . . but super inconvenient.

The evacuation was . . . really embarrassing.

She lifted her head and sighed.

Slowly she walked over to her dresser mirror and took a good look at herself.

She saw a girl who looked like she had dressed for a ball and gotten dragged over a reef.

Her gown was wrinkled and torn.

Her eyes looked tired.

Her hair was super-messy . . . but not in a beautiful way.

And as she watched, a last tiny wisp of smoke rose from the tip of her ponytail.

In spite of herself, . . . she smiled.

And she sighed a contented sigh.

She started to get ready for bed with a pleasant thought on her mind:

It will be nice to have a date to the Dolphin Social this year.

AND I CRIED AT SHADOW WEAVERS DEATH AND ADORA AND CATRAS KISS

IT WAS ALL SO BEATIFUL AND SAD

Me:

For a starter conversation about ideas in my fanfic, I thought I'd start with one of my very favorite stories in my fanfic: Mermista's story!

(If you haven't read it yet, I invite you to check it out in our Fan Fiction Archive!)

Mermista is the first one to speak in my fanfic, picking up on her final line of the series: "So, are we all just, like . . . okay with this?"

And that is the starting point of her story in my fanfic! It literally began with me taking that line and imagining: What comes next?!

In SatPoP, Mermista is introduced in the same episode as Sea Hawk, and their relationship is immediately established as practically definitional of their characters! He is the doting and overenthusiastic romantic, and she is the more down-to-earth, aloof, and disinterested one. Nevertheless, they share a mutual understanding and familiarity with the friction in their relationship and an undeniable bond, such that they are practically always together throughout the series.

And throughout the series, they go through a lot together, they grow to understand each other more, and they definitely grow closer, to the point that Sea Hawk declares his love in the final episodes, and Mermista's look in her final scene with him can only (in my humble opinion) be interpreted as a sort of response in kind.

The same dynamic is true in my fanfic, which begins in the first chapter with Sea Hawk taking things a logical step further and attempting a marriage proposal; however, Mermista instantly puts the brakes on that. Too much, too soon. Mermista admits, "it’s just . . . a little complicated, right now." but reassures him with "It’s okay, though. We’re, like . . . working on it."

That unspoken proposal troubles and intrigues Mermista throughout the entire rest of my fanfic. She broods on it while they are on the ship bringing her people back to Salineas, and it distracts her at Glimmer's "Emergency Princess Sleepover." It is the question she whispers to her father in one of the final times he is able to speak with her.

Throughout the story, Mermista calls on Sea Hawk to be with her and to be involved in the tasks she must take on, including rescuing her people, bonding with the Pearl to help save the planet, mourning the loss of her father, and saving Entrapta's life.

Sea Hawk ends up being the ideal companion, keeping things light and hopeful to keep her energized, while also treating Mermista and her people with respect and sensitivity. He shows that she can rely on him and that he is faithful and trustworthy. And gradually, she convinces herself that not only does his style compliment her own and his spirit nurture hers, but she truly cares about him and longs to deepen their bond.

And at the end of my fanfic, things have developed to the point that Mermista is ready to respond with a shanty proposal of her own!

It was also very important for me to explore Mermista's character as a ruler.

She was shown to be somewhat reluctant in the role in the series, seemingly only taking it on because her father was unavailable.

I decided to look into that a little deeper until I determined that there was an additional stress involved.

Nothing in the series convinced me that her father was actually gone.

He was simply incapable of leading and therefore absent.

That's where I came up with the idea that he was alive but suffering a dementia that made it impossible for him to rule and essential for Mermista to take on that burden (as it seemed to be to her).

Over the course of my fanfic, Mermista developed her leadership abilities, learning to become better at public-speaking, embracing the role of being in command, and accepting that her people would be looking up to her.

Then, the natural d*ath of her father was the final thing that compelled her to have to fully accept that position, and she chose to accept it in her own way, which would not be as a solitary ruler, but instead would invite and practically command that Sea Hawk take a place by her side!

And now, I would like to share some of my very favorite Mermista lines from my fanfic:

Mermista: Uhhh, so, we’ve been getting these weird deadly whirlpools? Out of nowhere. Yeah. Those are fun.

(From My Episode 61: Stay Close (Part Five))

Mermista: [non-committal] Yeah. So, I’ve been, like, perfecting my epic-ness for the last half-hour or so. But, to be honest, . . . this is getting a little boring.

(From My Episode 64: Where There Is Light (Part Four))

Mermista: [firmly] Sea Hawwwk! Would you pleeeease stop drowning yourself? It’s super distracting.

(From My Episode 67: Light In The Mourning (Part Two))

Mermista: Uuuuuuuuum, wasn’t there this super-fast ship that Entrapta and Adora had? The one that could go into space and travel, like, a zillion miles an hour?

Catra and Bow stare at each other wide-eyed as they listen.

Mermista: [from the tracker pad] Yeah, whatever happened to that? ‘Cause, that would come in clutch right now.

(From My Episode 76: The True Heart (Part Two))

Memista: And yeah. I’m your queen now. True. [matter-of-factly] But, I mean, there’s really no need to make a big thing about it because I’m literally doing the same things I did before as your princess.

She shrugs and gestures in a casual dismissal.

Mermista: I mean, . . . can we be real? It’s basically, like the exact same job.

(From My Episode 77: First Things First (Part Three))

Mermista: [to Sea Hawk] See this face? [she pauses] This . . . is my shanty mood!

(From My Episode 77: First Things First (Part Three))

And a few of my favorite Seamista moments!

Sea Hawk: And, also . . . are you feeling better?

Mermista: [smiling at him] Yeah. Thanks. The kelp actually helped a lot. [she looks away with the tiniest blush]

Sea Hawk: Ahh, The generous bounty of the sea. The delicacies of the deep. A cornucopia of delicious delights.

Mermista: So, like . . . have you actually tried kelp?

Sea Hawk: Why, yes.

Mermista: [curious] What did you think? I mean, be honest.

Sea Hawk: [smiling, unashamed] It’s terrible.

(From My Episode 54: Just Friends Ship (Part Three))

Mermista: [directly] I need someone to captain my ships, so I’m offering you a job as . . . ”

He interrupts her, striking a gallant pose and facing bravely into the non-existent wind.

Sea Hawk: [with pride] Captain Sea Hawk! Commander of the fleet!

Mermista: [finishing her previous sentence] Yeah, as my driver. So, if you want the job . . . ?

(From My Episode 56: Throne Room (Part One))

Sea Hawk: [humbly, nodding] My lady.

They smile gently at each other for a short time in silence. Then Mermista looks away, her smile fading.

Mermista: [seriously] Okay, so, like, you’re getting a little heavy, and I’ve got things to do.

She immediately drops him.

(From My Episode 63: Welcome . . . (Part Three))

So what are your thoughts?

I'm hearing way too many fireworks going of right now for the 4th of July, and it got me thinking about this.

Sea Hawk loves setting off fireworks, obviously. Including the firecrackers that just bang without any pretty lights or anything. Scorpia loves watching the pretty fireworks. Mermista is usually annoyed by them. Perfuma and Catra both hate them — they get startled by BOOMs and hate how loud it is. Or rather, Catra hates them if other people are setting them off; she enjoys setting them off herself. Adora likes the pretty lights but dislikes the noise. Glimmer probably likes them. (Can she make things like them with her magic? Probably, and they'd be less loud, and she probably prefers them to normal fireworks.) Bow likes them too, but has to make sure his friends are being safe when setting them off. Entrapta is working on making fireworks herself. Hordak doesn’t see the point in any of it.

Happy weekend, everybody. 😊

I am hoping that this chapter will be a treat for you!

This is one that I've been wanting to share for a while, and if you've followed the story all along, you'll see how the events led up to this point.

This one is kind of a bookend to my very first post of the story!

Recap of Episode 77 so far:

Part One: The Peace Zone is being made new, and the princesses there look forward to a new adventure!

Part Two: A great honor is bestowed, and a friend group grows.

My dedication this week is to Alyson ( @AlyzGlimmering ), who is a wonderful new friend and new reader of my fanfic!

I also am calling out to the inimitable and wondrous Jasper ( @ProfessorQuinn ) who really shouldn't miss this one.

And Kit ( @ArchduchessKittycat ), you'll like this, too!

Come with me as the tide turns anew in the life of a princess!

Mermista stands beside a light teal curtain with a somber expression, eyes downcast. Her hair is braided behind her with threads of filagree silver twined within it.

In a change to her typical outfit, a teal skirt flows from her hips, and a light mantel of sea blue-green drapes from her shoulders, clasped at the neck with a fastener of gold, at the center of which is a brilliant pearl.

She sighs and looks up to see her attendant standing close by and facing her with a golden tiara in his hands. He offers it out to her with a look of invitation.

Mermista holds out a hand to bring pause to his action.

Mermista: Hold up. Just . . . give me a second, okay?

The attendant nods, and Mermista turns away. Gathering up a piece of the curtain, she presses her face into it.

Mermista: [groaning] Ugggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh.

She lifts her head up again and turns back to her attendant, nodding to him.

Mermista: Okay. I’m ready.

Mermista’s attendant carefully places the tiara to rest atop Mermista’s head and pulls back the curtain beside him. Bright sunlight spills through the opening.

Mermista takes a deep breath, and she passes through, out into the brightness.

The former princess, now a queen, steps into a large, open space that rises gently around her on three sides like the inside of an enormous clean, white clamshell half. The sunlight graces the surfaces of twin pools of water -- one on each side -- while 3 steps lead up to a small raised platform standing about halfway between the center and the base of the shell.

Mermista surveys the gathering of more than a thousand people, some sitting and some standing along the gently-tiered incline that fans out around her, facing the platform.

Upon her entry, the crowd erupts into a jubilant shout, and applause and cheering rise and ring out to reverberate across the outdoor assembly space. A fanfare bursts forth from a collection of musicians settled near the curtain wall behind the platform.

Mermista smiles with a tiny blush as she walks quickly over to the steps and ascends. Another attendant awaits her there. He bows low and humbly offers out her gleaming trident to her.

Mermista accepts this with a nod, and the attendant steps back and retreats from the platform deferentially.

Memista turns toward the crowds and raises her trident boldly, eliciting a renewed thrill within the heart-warming cheer rising to embrace her. She pivots slowly, sweeping her smiling gaze from one side to the other across the gathered people of Salineas.

Countless beaming faces gaze back at her: young and old, shining as burnished hues from chestnut to copper to walnut. They give voice to love for their leader, calling her name and shouting joyfully. Mermista’s gaze comes to rest on one face quite different from the rest: a dashing buccaneer with a cheeky but innocent gleam in his eye and a sparkling grin like ocean mist catching sunshine. Sea Hawk gives her a friendly salute from the front row and bows deeply.

Mermista smiles, and tears of emotion fill her eyes. She blinks as she sweeps her trident in a horizontal motion, signaling the crowds and the musicians to fall silent.

For a moment she stands and inhales deeply.

Then she speaks in a loud voice.

Mermista: [confidently] Thank you, people! I’m really glad to see you all. Your enthusiasm. It really gets me. [she touches her fist to her chest] Like . . . deeply. No joke.

She leans forward and passes her trident down to one of her attendants, then straightens up and gestures to herself with both hands.

Mermista: [with feeling] But this celebration isn’t really about me.

She points outward to the audience, gesturing across the rows.

Mermista: This is about you!

Her statement inspires some wondering murmurs amongst the crowds, and some of them turn toward one another questioningly.

Mermista continues, gesturing outward, palms up.

Mermista: You fought and struggled while I was away during the last weeks of the war. And then . . . when I finally came back to bring you home again . . . you were all super-chill about it.

Mermista pauses, bringing her hands to her heart as she continues in a quieter voice.

Mermista: [with emotion] I wanna thank you. I’m really grateful for all of your support. For me. And . . . for being so understanding about . . . what was going on with my dad.

She sniffs another deep breath and sighs. Dropping her arms to her sides, she lifts her head, smiling out to her people, with eyes shimmering with tears.

Memista: And yeah. I’m your queen now. True. [matter-of-factly] But, I mean, there’s really no need to make a big thing about it because I’m literally doing the same things I did before as your princess.

She shrugs and gestures in a casual dismissal.

Mermista: I mean, . . . can we be real? It’s basically, like the exact same job.

And with that, she leaps down from the platform with a confident flair.

Mermista: But as your queen, i’ve got something to say.

Mermista stretches out her arm and points commandingly.

Mermista: Sea Hawk. Get over here.

Sea Hawk’s blinks his eyes, mildly startled, but then smiles and springs from the crowd, jogging lightly to Mermista’s side, where he arrives beaming and standing proudly with hands on his hips. He looks out at the audience and chuckles.

Sea Hawk: [mildly self-conscious] Ah! Haha, haha!

Mermista claps a firm hand on his shoulder at arm’s-length, addressing the people as she gestures to Sea Hawk.

Mermista: You all know this guy. He’s my driver.

Sea Hawk’s smile falters slightly as he glances her way.

Mermista: [continuing] And . . . [smiling and nodding] . . . kind of annoyingly, . . . he has stayed by my side, faithfully . . . through everything.

She glances at him with a heart-felt half-smile.

Mermista: [warmly] No matter what.

Mermista turns toward Sea Hawk, laying both hands on his shoulders and turning him to face her. He grins widely with confidence.

Mermista: [with a little nod] Sea Hawk. You have served me and my people with honor. You have shown that you care about them. And that you respect me.

Sea Hawk looks at her with glistening eyes, and his lower lip is trembling slightly.

Mermista: And honestly, you’ve really been a big help when things were tough. So . . . [looking down, with slight hesitancy] I’ve been thinking it over, and . . . [looking him in the eyes again] I . . . wanna give you a promotion.

Sea Hawk straightens up proudly and humbly nods at this.

Mermista’s hands slide down to take Sea Hawk’s in her own.

Mermista: [earnestly] I was thinking . . . How about . . .

There is an electric pause.

The audience seems to be holding its collective breath as they await Mermista’s word.

As she finishes her sentence, her expression blooms into a wide beaming smile!

Mermista: [in joyful release] . . . king?!!

Sea Hawk gasps with eyes widened, and his whole body jerks upright in surprise!

Sea Hawk: [in massive delight] Ah-AH!!

Suddenly, he drops to one knee, holding Mermista’s hands in his. He gazes up to her with loving eyes.

Sea Hawk: My lady!! I accept!!

Mermista: Good!

She steps back pulling away from his grasp and, with a quick flick of her fingers at her neck, unclasps her mantel and tosses it to the surprised attendant, who hastily gathers the material in his arms.

She grins and points to her face with both hands.

Mermista: [to Sea Hawk] See this face? [she pauses] This . . . is my shanty mood!

A whooping cheer rises from the crowd all around.

Mermista turns her attention to the orchestra at the back and points to them with regal authority.

Mermista: [with firm casualness] Hit it, guys!

Immediately the band strikes up a spritely chorus of strings and flutes in an infectiously rhythmic reel!

Mermista turns to Sea Hawk, absolutely glowing, lifts her skirts, and begins to dance!

As her caper brings her close to him, she starts singing.

Mermista: [with pride]

I am Mermista, Queen-of-the-Sea.

And this is Sea Hawk, my soon-to-be!

I claim him now o-ffi-cial-ly

To be my only one!

With this, Sea Hawk leaps to his feet, joining in with the dance and the shanty.

Sea Hawk: [ecstatically]

I’m Captain Sea Hawk! I am he!

My Queen Mermista is claiming me,

For us to make (and I agree!)

Our two adventures one!!

With their eyes locked in perfect synch, Mermista and Sea Hawk dance around one another in beautiful harmony.

Mermista: [singing with conviction]

So this is how it is gonna be!

Sea Hawk: [supporting]

We’ve sung it aloud, and shantily!

Mermista: [in happy abandon]

I’ve chosen him! He’s chosen me!

Now Shanty Time is done!

Taking each other’s hands, they swing each other around, as they gradually draw nearer to one side of the dance floor.

Mermista and Sea Hawk: [together, extending the chorus]

Now Shaaaaantyyyy Tiiiiiime iiiiiiiis dooooooooooone!

As the music approaches the height of excitement, they dance a last few energetic steps, and all at once, Mermista pulls Sea Hawk very close to her, halting beside one of the pools of water. For a brief moment, the musicians pause.

Mermista: [finishing the song]

Now Shanty Time is done!

And as the band strikes the last chord, Mermista takes Sea Hawk in a rapid dip-kiss, holding him low out over the water!

The crowd explodes into wild applause and cheering.

Mermista and Sea Hawk, still kissing, overbalance and flop into the water with a terrific splash!

The people are on their feet, stomping and clapping, and cheering with even greater enthusiasm.

After a couple of moments, Sea Hawk and Mermista pop up again, their clothes soaked and their hair matted down. Mermista hangs onto Sea Hawk’s shoulders, and Sea Hawk holds her tightly by the waist.

For a few seconds they turn toward the audience, blinking and giddy with joy.

Mermista smiles and blushes a little.

Sea Hawk pulls off his sopping wet bandana and raises it high, waving it to the crowds.

Sea Hawk: [in a mighty voice] AAAAAD-VEN--

Mermista grabs his head and swiftly stops his proclamation with another kiss!

Sea Hawk relaxes and smiles through the kiss.

And as their people adore them with their joyful cries and applause from all around, Mermista and Sea Hawk, oblivious to anything other than holding each other, slip slowly down into the water once more.

I saw a shirt like this online, and it reminded me of Mermista so much I had to draw her in it.

I drew this back in August 2023, but apparently it took me until now to actually get around to posting it. (Getting a half-decent photo of traditional art is hard ahaha)

(Click for full ^^)

Hello all She-Ra fans.

Do you know that various TV programs are subdivided into Arcs? So here's my question: How would you divide the series?

(Forgive my English)