He we are again!
I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited about this chapter, and I've been looking forward to posting it for months! 😃
Episode 68 so far:
Part One : On a bright early morning, Adora is grateful for the peaceful night she shared with Catra, though now she must leave.
Part Two: Now that Glimmer's magic is truly gone, can she console herself through new devotion to her queenly duties?
Part Three: She-Ra can't seem to find Razz, despite her best efforts!
Part Four: All in good time, Razz makes tea, while Adora discovers her cottage at last!
Part Five: Glimmer is every one of us struggling with homework until the ultimate distractions arrive to save her!
Part Six: Getting tea at Razz's place is an adventure!
Part Seven: Razz tells the story of magic as she leads Mara and Adora to a mysterious destination.
Vivian ( @FlamingSunsetSecretSpitfire ), this chapter is for you. I know how you love "Hero," so this is my dedication to you!
I really hope you like it. 😁
It's a privilege to write this for all of you!
Enjoy.
Through the perfectly transparent sheet of water, spilling over the rocky overhang above, Adora watches the figure as it steps forward.
At first, its features are indistinct, hidden and blurred by the refraction of light, but its form and characteristics become clear as it steps closer.
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.
Mara: A- Adora? Are you . . . Adora?!
Adora nods, clearly stunned.
Adora: Yeah.
Mara frowns, then smiles.
Mara: Razz has talked about you a lot. You’re from the future, aren’t you?
Adora nods again, and Mara regards her silently, her smile fading. She bites her lip, and her expression wavers, relieved, troubled, hopeful, worried, all at the same time. Finally, she gathers her words.
Mara: [slowly] Adora. [after a strangled pause] I’m sorry.
Adora reaches out her hand as if to comfort the vision in front of her.
Adora: [quickly, reassuring] No. What do you mean? Mara. You’re . . .
Mara interrupts, lost in a dark memory.
Mara: [looking down, sadly] I’ve failed, Adora. They wanted me to be a hero. My people. My friends here on Etheria. [her forehead wrinkling in pain] I was supposed to save them! But I failed all of them. [looking up] That means I failed you, too.
Adora: [frowning in sympathy] No. No, you haven’t.
Mara continues, as if she doesn’t hear, looking away from the wavering figure in the waterfall.
Mara: [shuddering] It’s just . . . all gotten to be too much. [looking up again] What’s happening. What’s going to happen! And I don’t know what to do. It may already be too late!
Adora shakes her head, her voice rising with certainty.
Adora: It’s not too late, Mara!
Mara looks at her in fragile hope, her eyes close to tears.
Adora: And you’re not a failure. [softly] You will save everyone.
Mara looks down at Adora, seeing her assurance, wanting to believe it.
Mara: [with a sudden thought] You have the sword?
Adora nods, then slowly stretches out her free hand, and a glow of sparkles appears in the air before her. She closes her fingers around the hilt as the Sword of Protection materializes into existence. It glows with a fierce brilliance, a hopeful energy.
Mara stares at it, and the tears she was holding back begin to spill. But her jaw is set in determination. She turns back toward Adora, her eyes not quite focusing.
Mara: [almost to herself] Maybe it isn’t too late, then.
She looks Adora directly in the eyes.
Mara: [to Adora] I came to Razz for help today, and she led me . . . to you. I think now I see why.
Adora nods slightly, the corner of her mouth lifting.
Adora: I think I do, too.
Hesitantly, Mara reaches out . . . and touches the surface of the water on her side of the fall.
Mara: I need your help, Adora.
Adora releases the sword, and it fades. She takes a step closer to the waterfall, reaching out to her side of the water, . . . and she lays her palm against Mara’s.
Adora: What can I do?
Mara slowly twines her fingers between Adora’s and squeezes her hand. Her eyes are wide, only a few feet from Adora’s face.
Mara: Just listen. And . . . help me decide.
She lets go and drops her arm. The waterfall flows gradually more gently, as Mara turns to one side, folding her arms across her body and furrowing her brow.
Mara: You’re Eternian, like me.
Adora startles a little bit at this thought, as Mara continues.
Mara: The only one who I can talk freely with. About this.
She glances at Adora with a serious expression.
Mara: You’re She-Ra, too. So, you know all about the magic of Etheria.
Adora frowns.
Adora: That’s the problem. I wish I did! [spreading her arms helplessly] But, . . . I don’t. That’s why I came to see Razz today.
Mara pauses and straightens up with a wondering expression.
Mara: But . . . didn’t Razz teach you . . . when you were learning about She-Ra?
Adora brings her hands together. She taps her fingers on the teacup, looking at the simple pattern on its surface.
Adora: Some. I mean . . . [regretfully] I guess I didn’t understand a lot of it. And, I only saw her occasionally.
Mara: [in understanding] I see. So, you relied on Light Hope. [bitterly] And she lied to you. She . . . betrayed you?
Adora looks mutely into Mara’s eyes, the hurt there evident.
Mara sighs and stares past Adora, through the waterfall.
Mara: [with a sad smile] I guess we’re here to help each other. [shaking her head] Good old Razz.
Suddenly, it’s as if the weight and weariness of her world has overcome her, and Mara lowers herself to the ground to sit, with one knee pulled up close to her body. The coolness of the waterfall sprays near her cheek, as Adora squats down close beside her, giving all of her attention.
Mara: [murmuring reflectively] I’ve been coming to see Razz almost every day for the past couple of months. [smiling] She taught me how the magic grows. In everything on this planet. And how I was becoming part of the magic! [nodding to Adora] Just like you.
The hint of a smile touches Adora’s face again.
Adora: And that’s what Razz meant when she said we can’t lose the magic?
Mara: [grinning at her] Yes! [looking up] That’s the beautiful gift that this planet gives. Razz always said that you and I . . . She-Ra . . . we have somehow become one with Etheria now. That means that we’re one with the magic, too.
Adora leans in closer, the urgency of her words showing through the tension of her body.
Adora: What about the other princesses?
Mara: It’s the same with them. At least, I think it is.
Adora: [quietly, to herself] I wonder what’s missing, then.
The waterfall becomes a little thinner, now like a frame of fluid glass between them.
Suddenly, Mara pulls both knees up and hugs them close to her body, shaking her head, frowning with emotion.
Mara: [her voice rising] I’ve asked my superiors again and again: Why do we have to take the magic like we are?! When Etheria already gives its magic . . . [thoughtfully] in its own way. [pause] But, it wasn’t enough for them. [angrily] It’s never enough! The Heart of Etheria project is growing! And it’s getting dangerous!
Suddenly, Mara’s voice drops almost to a whisper. Her eyes are wide and frightened as she turns to Adora again.
Mara: No one says what’s really going on. But the Grayskull Squadron -- my squadron -- has been gathering intelligence. The Heart of Etheria is nearing completion. And its power . . . [there is terror in her eyes] . . . will be devastating. Whatever it is . . . it’s not what they said. We can’t be sure, but . . . we think it’s a weapon.
Adora’s voice is sympathetic and hard at the same time.
Adora: It is a weapon.
Mara: How do you know?
Adora hesitates, and her breath catches at the terrible memory.
Adora: Because . . . because you told me. Before it’s all over, you make a recording. It’s how you make sure that I know about the weapon and how dangerous it is.
Mara looks stricken.
Mara: [desperately] But . . . that can only mean that I fail. Grayskull wants me to help them to destroy it.
Adora: [urgently] And you’ve got to try. If you don’t, the weapon will destroy everything.
Mara shakes her head, tormented.
The sheet of the waterfall shows tiny breaks in a dozen places.
Mara stares Adora in the eyes.
Mara: [anguished] What if I’m wrong?
Adora: You’re not.
Mara: But, can I betray my people?! The ones that I love?!!
Adora: [struggling with emotion] I know! It will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. [calmly, as her eyes fill with tears] But, you have to do it. Because you love them.
Mara turns her face downward, deliberating through her pain as Adora leans closer.
Adora: [emphatically] The Heart of Etheria will do nothing but destroy. If you can stop it, then you can save them, save Etheria . . . save everyone.
Mara nods to herself.
Adora: Mara . . .
Adora reaches out her hand again to touch Mara’s through the water, but suddenly, the streams of falling water between them have thinned to nothing more than scattered trickles and drops. Her hand passes through the emptiness.
Adora: [panicked] Mara! What’s happening?!
From the other side of the waterfall, Mara jumps to her feet, searching desperately.
Mara: [shaken] Adora! Can you hear me?! Are you still there?!
From a short distance away, Razz raises her arms, gesturing urgently.
Madame Razz: [calling out in a powerful voice] Quickly! Zere is little time left to talk! Say what you must! Before zeh water runs out completely!
Adora and Mara react, both managing to gravitate toward the one strong flow of water that remains. Through its liquid glassiness, they can see each other’s faces and a strip of each other’s torsos. Their eyes lock in complete focus, and tears stream down their faces.
Adora: [speaking quickly] I believe in you, Mara! Look at me. I’m proof that the future is safe because of you! I can’t promise that I’m the best She-Ra. I’ve made so many mistakes. But I promise I won’t stop trying, and I won’t let you down.
Mara nods.
Mara: [smiling] Thank you, Adora.
She takes a breath and sighs, her expression determined.
Mara: I know what I’m going to do now. For Etheria. And for the honor of Grayskull. [slight pause] And I’ll do it for you, Adora! For the future.
She reaches out her hands as Adora does the same. They meet and clasp one another tightly.
Mara: Don’t ever forget the most important part of magic, Adora. It’s what Etheria gives. It’s what I give to you right now.
Adora smiles through her tears, inclining her head questioningly.
Mara: [softly] Love.
And suddenly, they must withdraw their hands quickly, as if pushed apart, and the trickles of water dissolve into droplets, like a gentle rain, slowly receding.
Adora is left staring, with empty hands. Alone.
In another time, Mara steps out from under the rocky overhang, the afternoon sunlight glittering off of the dampness in her long, brown hair.
Madame Razz is there to receive her, standing quietly, shining with her beautiful and ageless smile for her young friend.
Mara approaches close to her, with drying tears streaking her face. She smiles and nods slowly.
Mara: I’m ready, now, Razz.
She looks down at the small, chipped cup now resting in her hands, and she chuckles softly.
Mara: I’m ready for the tea.
Madame Razz takes her arm gently as they turn and start back the way they came.