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That sword… changed everything. But that wasn’t just it. My whole world changed.
The Sword of Protection spins around in what looks like deep, dark water. Memories of Adora finding it, the Best Friend Squad recruitment and the Battle of Bright Moon are visualized around it.
I began protecting the people I supposedly had to fight against. And I’m glad I did, even though it hurt me to fight against HER. But that wasn’t the only sort of battle I had.
There was a truth behind the so-called ‘purpose’, the ‘destiny’ I was meant to follow, something I wasn’t supposed to make a choice in… but I did.
More memories flash: the alternative portal dimension, Queen Angella’s sacrifice, Glimmer’s coronation, the falling out between her and Adora, the rescue of Entrapta and Micah on Beast Island and the shattering… the Sword starts to flow with magic and the water surrounding it changes color, reflecting it.
Once it was gone, I was sure I needed to compensate for it. But the power still WAS with me somehow… and even stronger than I could imagine.
As the First Ones’ Sword falls apart gently, She-Ra’s true sword appears, surrounded by memories of Adora rescuing the Star Sisters, Glimmer and Bow, Adora rescuing Catra from Horde Prime, and defeating Horde Clones and robots in Erelandia…
But I still was weak. I let myself fall back into that old Adora that would obey, regardless of what it costed. I thought I was prepared to die; ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to save Etheria and release magic back into the world.
… and memories of Shadow Weaver, Adora retrieving the Failsafe, and Catra seemingly leaving again… and her rescuing Adora in the Heart, followed by their kiss.
But… no. I deserved more, or at least, what I truly wanted. And that was the key all along: not focusing, not overworking… just LOVE. That’s what I wanted, what I needed… and what She-Ra needed.
As the true sword stands still, a glowing yellow silhouette’s hand holds it, the runestone’s glow bathing the scenery in light.
In the vastness of space, surrounded by stars, Darla traveled at a calm, slow speed. Inside, on her own room, Adora was resting, holding her pillow.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes softly, looking around at the familiar place: the same colorful space where she saw the She-Ra silhouette.
“Well, I wasn't expecting to see this that soon...” She thought out loud, then felt a presence behind her. She-Ra’s silhouette stood behind her, and soon enough, Mara crossed it. “Mara… it’s you! I guess, it- it must be you, right?”
“Yes, Adora. We are here.” She smiled warmly at her, tapping her shoulder.
“We?” She asked, confused for a moment, before looking back at the silhouette and seeing it float backwards, and reveal other She-Ras, of all types: satyrs, reptilians, cat people, butterfly people, avians… Adora was in awe at all of them.
“When you broke the Sword, the First Ones’ hold on the She-Ra line was stopped, but only with magic restored was our connection to each other completely fixed. And none of this would’ve happened without you, Adora.”
“Well, I… I almost did fail. And not just because of Horde Prime… I have to thank you as well, Mara.” Adora reflected, to which Mara chuckled.
“I guess Catra did it better than me.” She teased, and Adora rubbed the back of her head blushing. "Nevertherless, know that we'll be there for you anytime. And once more, thank you." Reuniting around Adora with handshakes, pats on the back and even a hug, the She-Ras repeated praises and thanked Adora.
Adora then felt something rubbing her cheek, which prompted her to wake up. Opening her eyes slowly, she took notice of Melog, who was prepared to pull her sheets and drag her off the bed.
“Okay, okay! I’m awake.” She stopped him, before yawning and stretching up. She looked over to the side, seeing her jacket covering a set of clothes.
She wore her Horde uniform all her life, even when rebelling against it, but now they were gone. Also, it was kinda starting to get small. Now, wearing a tanktop under her jacket really showed how her arm muscles got firm.
She looked at herself in the mirror: she was surprised for a moment, but smiled back at her well-rested face. As she prepared to tie back her hair, she gave it a thought.
Finally, she made her way to the control room, where Bow and Catra were waiting.
“Hey, Adora… wow.” Her now girlfriend noticed the new change, and Adora was fine with it. Her hair was half updo: mostly down with a small ponytail, her known poof hair smaller, possibly due to the longer strands behind her ears, but not tied.
“Ooh, another change for Adora.” Bow commented. “Thought you’d just stick with no more uniform.”
“Eh, it was worth trying. I had a good feeling about it today.” She replied, sitting on the captain’s chair.
“I’m still not used to you not punching the air while sleeping.” Catra commented, petting Melog. “Not that it isn’t an improvement, but...” Adora lifted her hand, signaling her to stop, and giving her a smug look.
“Come on, Catra...” Glimmer teased her. “She saved it just for you...”
“Don’t push me into it!” She said, moving away from the queen, which soon became a playful chase between them. Adora allowed them to run for a short while, before giving Glimmer a signal with her head; she then teleported in front of Catra, startling her and making her fall on Adora’s lap.
“What? I didn’t do anything.” The blonde commented, looking at Catra’s pouting.
“Yeah, right… I’ll stay here, but it’s not because I like you.” She crossed her arms and offered a side smile.
“Of course not… it’s because you love me.” Their stares were honest and loving, despite their usual shtick.
“Okay, lovebirds, who’s hungry? We have a long day ahead, and can’t return magic to planets in an empty stomach~” Bow called out, Glimmer and him bringing not only dumplings, but noodles and some juice.
“You said it, arrow boy.” Catra picked up a cup and picked another one for Adora. “So, to another day on our journey!”
“And another day in this magical universe!” Adora added. The four of them lift up their cups high with a happy cry.
*BG music: Aaliyah Rose - Warriors*
We’re warriors! Unstoppable!
Darla entered warp speed and crossed space at high velocity. The roadtrip of the Best Friend Squad was ready to continue.
We feel the evil coming
And shadows all around
Danger surrounds us
But won't bring us down
With the ship landed on a steady surface, Adora stood on top of it, her eyes glowing blue and her transforming into She-Ra. Lifting her sword, she channelled a good portion of magic energy, and after a reassuring nod from Catra, leaped down.
We're on the edge of greatness
Turning darkness to light
We're right beside you
Ready to fight!
Soon enough, the magic was returning to the surface, plants growing, water (or whatever liquid the lakes seemed to have) purified and specs of magic floating up and around the surface. Proud of that, Adora stood up, just as Catra sneezed from a spec landing on her nose, Glimmer and Bow snickering.
We must be strong!
(We must be strong!)
And we must be brave
(We must be brave!)
On another planet, Catra ran with Melog across a seemingly dead forest, witnessing it change thanks to her girlfriend’s magic.
We gotta find every bit of strength
That we have and never let it go!
Glimmer was waiting for them on top of a nearby tree to prank Catra into sneezing again with a spec, but got startled by a bug-like creature, thankfully teleporting down before she fell. Bow then hurried everyone into getting on the ship, terrified by the swarm of bug creatures incoming.
We're bound to the struggle
With mighty sword and flame
We'll never fail you
When you call our name
In a volcanic surface, She-Ra tried a few times returning magic to that surface without success. Bow read the heat signature of that new planet and took notes, while his girlfriend shouted out that there WERE plants growing nearby, Adora now knowing where to return magic to; they moved out of there just as smoke seemed to come out.
Together we'll be heroes
Joining forces as one
Now in a flourishing, newly revitalized magical forest, She-Ra looked over to a relaxing Catra.
Strong as the steel we carry
We rise like the su-u-u-u-un!
She placed a newly-bloomed flower on top of her head, to which she slowly lowered her head, shrugging and wide-eyed, Glimmer laying on Melog as she laughed, and Bow concentrated on his notes.
We must be strong!
(We must be strong!)
And we must be brave
(We must be brave!)
In a mucky surface, Glimmer helped Bow out of a very deep sink into the muck, him looking all over for his notebook. Catra then waved it in front of him, as She-Ra did her thing.
We gotta find every bit of strength
That we have and never let it go!
We must be strong
In a restored beach scenario, and wearing cool swimming suits, Catra and Adora relaxed for a bit in the sandy surface, while Glimmer dive bombed into the nearby water, leaving Melog all wet, the cat creature hissing at her.
Back at the ship for a while, Catra sat near the window, looking at the stars, and Adora joined her with a warm drink to share.
Cause we're warriors
We are unstoppable
Nothing's gonna get in our way
They endured that quiet moment together, just laying together, facing the stars, until Bow entered the room, Melog denouncing Glimmer and him spying on them. The Best Friend Squad then reunited in the control room again, Adora raising her sword.
We're gonna win in the end!
(We must be strong!)
And we must be brave
(We must be brave!)
She-Ra spinned around before sliding down a hill in a piece of wood, returning magic along the way, Glimmer and Bow doing the same and Catra panicking along with Melog on her own piece of wood.
We gotta find every bit of strength
That we have and never let it go!
Distracted analyzing plants, Bow noticed suddenly a sticky tongue grabbing his notebook, and went after the frog-bird hybrid as Adora finished restoring that planet, Catra and Glimmer noticing his pursuit as they held their own frog-birds.
We must be strong!
(We must be strong!)
And we must be brave
(We must be brave!)
With another planet’s surface restored, the Best Friend Squad observed as a rock creature moved from its seemingly mountain position and looked over to them, covered in plants.
We're gonna reach inside,
Stand together and fight, never let it go!
Adora and Catra trained playfully together and exchanged meaningful stares, Glimmer and Bow reminding them that She-Ra has to finish cleansing the planet, which she does, lifting the sword.
We must be strong!
In the storage room on the ship, Bow had a map under construction on the wall. His notes were spread all over the floor, and also pictures of Etheria after the war: in each kingdom, lots of Horde Clones were present alongside the Etherians and the Princesses in the photos. Everyone looked happy and at peace.
“Woo! One more for the count!” Glimmer teleported into the room, startling him. “That makes… uh, how many planets there are again?”
“Well, we visited a bunch of planetoids, but they don’t have known names.” He looked over again to the map. “Many have breathable atmospheres and some wild life, but no official name.”
“A lot of nicknames though. Frog-Bird World, Bugly Planet, Volcanum, Scheim...”
“Okay, the last one HAVE to be official.” He stated, looking over to the constellation in his map. “It seems to spell “Scheim” in First One, or I’m the only one seeing it…”
“Sparkles, the dumplings are getting cold.” Catra entered the room, carrying a plate.
“In a minute, petty cat. We’re figuring something out here.” The queen assured. “Ugh, I wish Entrapta came with us. Not that you’re not doing a great job, but she is the First One specialist...”
“It was her choice to stay in Etheria. She wanted to personally supervise Hordak’s ‘rehabilitation’.”
“Not to mention that Crystal Castle she lives in now.” Catra thought about the location. ”She has TWO castles to live in, and a lot of clones to help, so I guess she made the right choice…” Her ears lowered. “I do miss her shrieking and tinkering though.”
“I think we all miss Etheria. But Dad’s taking care of things while I’m gone.” Glimmer picked a photo with her and King Micah helping him pick a cape. “How long has it been since we left though? Has it been months, maybe another year?”
“I’ll go with months. Despite the visible distance of the planets, this system has its planets closer to each other.” Bow pinned another point on the planet. “I hope my dads like this handmade map.”
“It looks good so far, though I don’t know a thing about space.” Catra munched on her dumplings. “But it seems like only one side is done?”
“Huh?” Bow looked back at the map and notes, and saw Catra was right: the other side of the map, hidden by a few boxes, was empty: there were no notes or drawings of planets. “This dimension, this universe… is too big. In this whole roadtrip, we were only halfway through!”
“Oof. Adora won’t like to hear that.” Glimmer feared.
“Hear what?” Adora entered the storage room, eating her own dumplings. “Uh, why’s the map blank on that side?”
“Because we haven’t been on that side. Arrow boy just said we’ve only crossed half of this dimension.”
“Only… HALF?!” Adora let go of the plate, Melog sniffing around the dumplings before eating one. “All those places restored and filled with magic, and we’re just halfway?!”
“Adora, Etheria was trapped for 1.000 years in an empty dimension.” Glimmer attempted to calm down her friend. “I don’t think we truly realized the size of this one, or how many planets exactly we had to visit.”
“UGH! I thought we were finally ending this!” The blonde groaned in frustration, covering her head. “That we had visited every planet known, and we could… maybe go home soon.”
“Then let’s go.” Catra tapped her shoulder.
“W-what?”
“Let’s go home. Back to Etheria. Now.” The cat girl looked at Glimmer, and she seemed into it, but paid attention to Adora’s reaction.
“But we’re not done yet, we have to keep going and return magic to all the other planets, all the magic that both the First Ones and Horde Prime took away. There’s too much left to do!”
“You’re right. There IS too much to do.” Bow approached them. “But maybe we could use some more help than just the Best Friend Squad. She-Ra might be powerful enough to give back magic, but even she can’t do this on her own forever.”
“Come on, Dora… let’s go home.” Catra gently touched her face. “For me?” Her pupils were wide and sparkling, Melog doing a similar expression. Adora looked back at Glimmer and Bow, and after a deep breath, she touched Catra’s hand with a smile.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and the ship shook backwards and forwards, making the storage supplies fall to both sides, Bow’s map and all the notes and photos detach from the wall and the Best Friend Squad attempt to keep their balance.
"What's that?!” Adora asked, as Catra held onto her firmly. Perhaps too firmly, as the blonde felt the touch of her claws pinching her.
All the systems shut down, and Darla stopped moving or working. Glimmer and Bow recovered from all that shaking and looked around, as Adora tapped Catra gently, assuring that was done, and she awkwardly realized what her claws were doing.
As soon as the lights were back on, which didn’t take that long, the Best Friend Squad breathed out in relief.
“Hm… are the wirings supposed to be that way? Once again, not an expert.” Catra looked over to the controls’ wires.
“Pretty much, yeah.” Bow checked the notes Entrapta left him about Darla, all filled with both elaborated diagrams and cute drawings of her giving thumbs up and thumbs down. “No signs of damage inside Darla. What do you got there?” He asked Glimmer, who was out there with Adora, investigating the surface.
“It’s strange, but there’s nothing here either. No dents, no hits, not even a single scratch.” She answered, carefully walking around the ship’s surface.
“No asteroids around either. I guess that's the emptiest space we've been in… space.” Adora added. “Then, where did whatever was that come from? Why did Darla stop working, even if only for a moment?”
“Wait, I’m getting a reading. It’s very… small.” Bow warned. “Doesn’t seem like a physical threat, but maybe...”
“Say no more.” Adora warned him, and made her sword appear. “For the Honor of Grayskull!”
That transformation… Catra could watch her all the time. Before, She-Ra was something that took Adora away from her. But THAT… that was the one with no fake sword or fake destiny, the one that WAS Adora.
“Not meaning to interrupt the admiring view, but...” Bow called her off her amazed trance. “Okay, She-Ra, please keep going forward.”
With a nod, She-Ra took a few steps, Glimmer following her close. Adora appreciated the concern, but focused ahead with her sword at hand.
“Is it getting stronger?” Catra looked over to the screen Bow analyzed.
“Definitely. Like it’s… something calling out.”
“Calling out? To what? Or who?”
Meanwhile, She-Ra stopped walking once she reached the end of the ship. After a good look at the emptiness in front of them, both Glimmer and her shrugged… until Adora felt her sword being pulled.
“Adora?! What happened?” Catra heard her girlfriend’s surprised shout.
“I-I don’t know...” She answered, holding to the sword, and feeling it being pulled even more, until she tripped over and fell, Glimmer holding to her free hand. Catra’s tail and fur fluffed up as she worried for Adora.
She-Ra tried again and again to pull back from whatever was pulling her sword, holding to Glimmer’s hands at the same time. She was NOT in control… like when-
Adora panicked and moved her sword around, a blast of magic energizing from her movement and being shot as she stopped shaking her arm. It seemed to hit something… that it was opening.
Light covered every bit of space, reflecting purple on the scattered archipelago of rock formations of varying sizes. Bigger formations seemed like mountains, and strange creatures flew around them: they were humanoid, but covered in feathers and having sharp claws and beaks along with their mouths.
“A new one appeared!” The flying creatures heard a voice calling from somewhere, looking over to their messenger. “We have a new one!”
“A new one?”
“Wow!”
“At last!”
The feathered beings approached her, ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ at her finding, some asking questions about it. However, they dispersed at the sound of a high-piercing shriek. A taller, less feathered, but whose head feathers resembled a crown, dived into the group and stopped in front of the messenger.
“Is it true, Gayda?” She demanded to know.
“Yes, Hunga, after-”
“QUEEN Hunga! We have been through this before, little sister.” She turned around as they made their way to the tallest formation.
“I know that. But we’re family, why can’t I just say your name?”
“How long has it been, Gayda? Since the last mating season, I was crowned queen-”
“And remained queen even after we were dragged into this place. You’ve told this story endlessly, and yet, every time a new breach is found, we have to go through this foolish discussion.”
“Foolish?! My people, our kingdom, are they foolish to you?!”
“That’s not what I said, and you know it!”
“Your Majesty, we await your orders.” One of the creatures down the mountain formation called, rejoiced by many other voices. With a final stare, Queen Hunga descended to talk.
Gayda observed her sister, standing in front of the Harpies, and looked down at a cave formation, where someone was sitting still.
A breach was opened, right in front of them, looking like a huge crack in the middle of space. Adora breathed in and out inside the ship, de-transforming.
“Adora...” Catra wanted to comfort her, but Bow reached her faster.
“Adora! Are you okay?!” He asked, seeing her eyes wide and her panicked breathing.
“I… I couldn’t hold it… couldn’t stop it...” She said, though hesitant.
“Okay, okay… deep breaths. Slowly in, slowly out.” He advised, lifting her face gently, and holding her shoulders. Catra did felt sad about not being the one comforting her, but Glimmer’s gentle tap on her arm assured her it’d probably be all okay. Bow then retrieved the screen as Adora was calming down. “Oh, my...”
“What is it?” Glimmer asked.
“I got a full reading. The disturbance we felt earlier was of magical origin. It seems She-Ra's sword energy colliding with the energy signature detected opened some kind of portal-”
“Portal?! I OPENED A PORTAL?!” Adora’s head lifted at once at that mention, Bow knowing that was not good.
“Some kind! It could be a portal or just a small breach, it’s… not gonna be there forever, just for a while.”
“Oh! Oh, okay… okay.” Adora’s panic felt lower, but not completely. Glimmer signaled with her head to give her some space, and both Catra and her walked out of the room, Bow being alone with her.
“Poor Adora...” Glimmer said, once back at the storage room, Catra helping her by putting everything back into place. “She was terrified like I haven’t seen in a long time, since- '' She noticed Catra’s head low. “Since the last portal… that brought Etheria back.”
“Good save, Sparkles. But…” She sat down, her hands around her body. “I can’t stop thinking about the other portal. The one I opened. The one that made your mom disappear.”
“Catra...” Glimmer sat nearby her. “My mom made a choice.”
“A choice that destroyed her! And it was my fault! All because I pulled that lever after knowing Shadow Weaver was in Bright Moon and that Adora was our prisoner and, a-and...” Catra teared up as she recalled the events. She tried stopping, but it was no use. “And because I was blind to how much I hurt people, and refused to change.”
Glimmer wished she could reply to something, but what Catra needed was to be heard. She offered her lap for Catra to lay her head on.
“I think about this every day, Glimmer. All the time, all the ways I hurt anyone that was truly nice to me, the times Adora tried to help me and I refused, how everything could’ve been different if I just… took her hand any of these times.”
“I thought Perfuma was helping you with that...”
“We only had time to talk it over once, before going into this road trip. And I… I don’t talk about this with Adora. She kind of avoids it, and I’m afraid of crossing a line and messing things up, so… we just stopped talking about anything beyond restoring the planets and seeing what they have.”
“See? It’s closing already.” Bow pointed out, Adora sitting in the captain chair, staring blankly at the direction he pointed.
“Yeah… at least I don’t have to fix this.” She slid her hands across her forehead and hair. “I was not in control, Bow. Right there, my sword was being forced into something and I couldn’t stop it.”
“Adora...”
“It was like when Etheria was brought back, and Light Hope made me-” Adora flinched at that painful memory, flashes of her being forced to open a portal in her mind. “I just couldn’t stand the idea of doing it again, even if it’s just a small breach! I hate the feeling of being powerless, and I didn't think it’d happen again!”
“But it happened, and you’re okay now! Just… stop beating yourself, Adora.” Bow’s worry finally came through to her.
“I tried… I really, really tried so hard to let go of what happened, to feel it’s over and the problem’s gone, but I can’t. I just… can’t.” She lowered her head, a few tears falling down. Bow wondered what else COULD he do to help… when he noticed something coming out of the breach. Something small and pink.
A feather.
It floated and glowed for a short moment before freezing in space… but it was time enough for Bow to put two and two together.
“A pink, glowing feather?!” Catra listened to what he said, both Adora and him stating what just happened. “Are you sure?”
“I know what I saw, Catra! That kind of feather… that glow it had was magical! There’s something in there… or someone.” He looked over to Glimmer, who gasped. That description was unmistakable… it was one of Queen Angella’s feathers.
“Mom?! My mom’s alive?!” She grabbed him by the shoulders. “My mom’s alive!” She was elated, until the realization sunk in. “And she’s stuck… there.”
“Not for long.” Catra was saying, but unexpectedly synced with Adora, which called their attention. “Adora...”
“I think I can keep the breach open and cross it.”
“So you can get stuck in there too?!”
“Catra, I can save her-”
“But I MADE HER GET STUCK! I opened the stupid portal that made her pull your stupid sword and got her trapped in that stupid place, whatever it is! I’m going to save her, and that’s final!” Catra’s anger outburst shocked Adora to the point where she fell to the floor. As she calmed down for a moment, she took a deep breath. “I owe her this, Dora. I owe Glimmer this, and I owe to Etheria… and to you.”
“Catra…”
“You think you’re the only one who wants to fix things? Just… let me do this. Let me fix this one thing, and bring her home with us.” She held her hand and helped her up. “I’m gonna be okay. We both will.”
“...you promise?” Adora knew she was right, that it didn’t have to be her, but needed this final assurance.
“I promise.” Catra’s hug and words were enough… and the comfort of each other ended her doubts for the moment.
As the ship stood in front of the breach, Catra, Glimmer and Bow suited up. Adora still felt concerned about not going with them, but Melog’s meow sounded reassuring enough; after all, it meant possibly that Catra would be fine.
As she walked out of the ship, making all the way from Darla's surface to the breach’s direction, Catra did stop to take in what was happening. She was really doing it; she was going to jump into that breach, and go wherever that led to to save the former queen…
“Catra, are you okay?” Glimmer asked, Bow and her noticing her stiff posture. As she snapped out of that, she was sure she was just as scared as she was determined.
“Y-Yes, I’m good, Sparkles. Just… stay with me, okay?“ She held to her wrist, Glimmer giving her a reassuring smile and Bow patting her on the shoulder before taking her free hand. They walked together towards the glowing crack in front of them…
After a short moment with their eyes closed, they looked over the scenario.
“Whoa...” It was all the three of them said.
“Okay, let’s try this.” Bow turned on his screen, so whatever they saw was transmitted to the ship. Adora ran to the captain’s chair, Melog taking a smaller form to sit on her lap. “Adora, can you see this?”
“Yes… and I don’t believe it! I mean, not that I don’t, it’s just so unreal! And yet, so familiar...”
“All these rocks floating around here…” Glimmer said as she followed Catra to a nearby formation. “And we can step on them without floating away.”
“I know, it’s like we’re not even in space anymore.” Bow followed suit, recording everything. “Just what sort of place is that where Angella got dragged into?!”
“Well, opening a portal leads to another dimension as far as we know… maybe that’s a space between it?”
“Space between dimensions, or maybe a whole dimension between space and… Despondos!” As Bow and Glimmer talked over what was going on there, Catra groaned softly.
“Whatever this place is, we have a mission right now, so please, can you ponder this later?!”
“Okay… but I'm letting Entrapta know about this when we get back home.” Bow remarked as they went on across the rock formations. From behind a bigger one, Catra signaled for them to join her, and they looked from there.
The Harpies were flying around the biggest rock formation, and some of them seemed to dig into the base. Two of them dragged someone from behind the mountain-like rock, and approached the diggers, forcefully plucking some of her feathers and helping to bury them.
“Mom!” Glimmer gasped, before Catra shushed her. “B-But that’s her! And those things, whatever they are, are ruining her wings!”
“I know, Sparkles, I know! But we can’t just jump there, we need a plan! A distraction to get her out of there fast!” She decided. “Even if you teleported there, we’re in small number and facing a squadron of those bird things- Wait, Bow?!” She then realized they were missing one member of the rescue team.
“Hey! Let me go!” Bow was pushed into another formation by a harpy, who was holding to him with her sharp talons. “Y-you’re gonna ruin the suit!” He tried reaching one of his arrows, but that creature’s grip was rough.
From the ship, Adora saw the recording of Bow’s P.O.V., and seeing the creature keeping him pinned on the formation, she held Melog so tight he struggled in her arms. Catra then pounced against the creature, and after it recognized what she looked like, it freaked out and shook her off her back.
“Cat! Cat, cat, cat!” Her shouts called the others’ attention, and they all got agitated.
“A cat person?! How did they got here?!” One of the bird people holding Angella’s wing asked out.
“I’m guessing they don’t like you very much...” Glimmer commented, as she helped Bow up.
“At one hand, rude but understandable. And on the other hand, quive convenient.” Catra decided, putting out her claws. “Sparkles, with me. Arrow boy, do the thing!”
“No problem!” After recovering his knocked out arrow bag, Bow watched out for more of the incoming creatures. However, as he leaped into a nearby formation and shot a sticky arrow, it succumbed to the floor. “Okay, maybe I have a problem.”
With the Harpies incoming in small groups, Glimmer and Catra ran towards the bigger formation, taking the advantage of the nearby floating surfaces, while Bow kept trying to shoot anything that worked to keep the enemies away. However, each spot he landed to shoot a new arrow seemed to present a different result: his rope arrow floated off, his sticky arrow’s slime melted off, and the stun arrow seemed to simply turn off, which made him frustrated.
However, despite his constant shooting failing, Glimmer got Catra and herself close enough to teleport; their imminent appearance, followed by the cat girl’s scary posture shooed the remaining Harpies away, leaving Angella unsupervised.
“Mom?! Mom!” Glimmer called, as she helped her up. She weakly opened her eyes, before leaning on the actual queen. “Oh, her wings look horrible. We have to carry her back to the ship.”
“And fast, because they’re coming back!” Catra decided, holding Angella on the other side. The incoming flock of winged creatures approached them, until an explosion was heard and along with the noise, came pieces of incoming destroyed rubble in their direction.
“Yes! YES! One right, finally!” Bow celebrated, before joining them and seeing an incoming new formation, filled with plants. “This place makes no sense...”
“Get… me… get me… out of here...” Angella muttered. Bow looked over: the breach was too far now, and in fact, the formations along the way were floating randomly once more.
“We’re getting far from the breach, we need to go back fast!” Catra realized, and Bow looked over to his arrows in concern, but with an idea in his head.
“Everyone, leap to the next one!” He decided, Glimmer teleporting Angella and Catra with her there, her feeling too heavy to leap, while Bow stuck all his remaining arrows in the side of it, and with their ignition, the arrows seemed to push them in the breach’s direction at high speed. “Adora, we’re coming back!”
“I see you. All of you.” Adora stood up at once, Melog finally getting off her tight grip and happy to see Angella with them. Still watching through Bow’s P.O.V. screen, she saw Glimmer look back and one of the bird creatures incoming to her. She felt it was the time to-
The actual queen then punched out the intruder in the face, before being pulled back by Catra. Adora halted her sword calling, breathing out relieved as she realized they had successfully crossed the breach and teleported into the control room.
“Don’t fret, it was mere rock.” One of the Harpies warned, calming the flock flying over desperately around some of the fragments of the formation that exploded. Gayda rubbed her injured beak.
“They’ll be back...” She commented, looking back at the mountain formation and the Harpies gathering around it again.
“Phew! We did it!” Catra stretched on the floor, before Adora helped her up and hugged her.
“You were great there...” She said, obviously still having concern in her voice.
“I know, I told you so.” She replied with a soft chuckle, as Glimmer helped Angella up and guided her out of the control room.
“That place… was crazy!” Bow commented, still visibly annoyed. “None of my arrows worked right!”
“And yet, those flying things never even got close...” Catra commented, then noticing how strange this was. “Uh, Adora… grip.”
“Sorry.” Adora immediately stopped hugging her and stepped back a bit before Melog meowed something.
“Wow, you were really worried, weren’t you?”
“Well, yeah. But I guess I really didn’t have to.” She admitted, blushing. Bow meanwhile started to prepare Darla to fly away from the breach. Glimmer then joined them at the control room again. “How’s she doing?”
“Fine… I left her some food, and she might rest for a while.” The actual queen’s voice didn’t held the enthusiasm Adora expected to hear.
“You’re okay, right, Glimmer?”
“Yes, Adora, I’m good… It’s just that… I’m not feeling what I thought I would. I mean, we just rescued my mom, who we all thought was gone. I should be happy, very happy… but for some reason, I’m not.”
“Maybe you need to process that whole situation we were in? I know I have.” Bow commented, writing down in his notebook.
“Bow has a point. Even for someone who just watched, that place and that whole situation looked and was pretty dangerous. Maybe after calming down-” Adora tried to advise Glimmer, but she shook her head.
“I’m calm, Adora! I am, I’m just… feeling something’s weird.” She said, Catra looking over to Melog and watching Adora ponder for a moment before walking out, possibly to talk to Angella herself.
Something was DEFINITELY weird.
Laying in the bed, Angella looked around the room with defiant eyes. The plate in front of her remained untouched.
“Angella?” A voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and made her stand up straight.
“Oh, it’s... you.” She said, briefly, showing a small side smile.
“Yeah, it’s me, Adora! Wow, I missed you so much, Angella, you have no idea how things went after you were gone!” Adora immediately started talking, looking at her with both hopeful eyes and like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. “Everyone was so sad, Glimmer was so sad!”
“Uh-huh… G-Glimmer. Yes.”
“After she became queen we tried to protect her, but we fought, and I thought we’d never be friends again! And then I found out there was a WEAPON in Etheria’s core, and we were taken off Despondos and placed where we are now!”
“Despondos? We’re not in Despondos?”
“Uh, no, I’m not sure what this dimension’s name is, but we were hidden in Despondos by Mara, who turns out was trying to prevent the Heart of Etheria, the weapon on the core, from being activated and hid us from Horde Prime as well. So she was not the She-Ra that went crazy, she was the She-Ra that tried saving Etheria from being destroyed!”
“She-Ra?!” Angella’s head stood straight up.
“Y-yes, the She-Ra before me. I honestly didn’t thought I’d ever transform again after breaking the Sword-”
“Where’s She-Ra?”
“Here! I’m She-Ra! Are you sure you’re okay?” Adora finally realized she hadn’t touch her food. “Oh, I might’ve talked a lot, I’m sorry. You must be exhausted-”
“Why wasn’t She-Ra there to save me?” She approached Adora with a questioning look.
“I… I wanted to, but Catra said-”
“She-Ra could’ve taken me out of that miserable place faster...”
“M-maybe...”
“Then why did you let HER save me?” The tension in the room got to Adora, her stepping out of the room, and leaving Angella alone.
“Hey, Adora, Bow’s having problems getting the ship out of here-” Catra came over talking, until she saw the concern in Adora’s face. “I take the conversation didn’t go well?”
“I… I should’ve gone with you.”
“W-what?”
“She-Ra could’ve helped. Maybe even faster than-”
“Oh, no, don’t give me this. We’re all good now, okay?! Angella’s safe and sound, and YOU didn’t need to be the one doing it.”
“But… A-Angella said-”
“So what if it wasn’t She-Ra?! She’s out of that crazy place, and far away from those bird things! Her being safe is far more important than who did it, right?!”
Adora leaned on the wall, conflicted. She KNEW Catra was right, but yet it felt strange her not being the one saving the former queen.
“Please, trust me, Dora. It’s all good now. Except that… somehow, the ship’s not getting out of the current position, so-” Adora’s focus shifted at once from the discussion.
“Come on, Darla, come on, move!” Bow repeated over and over the procedures to activate the ship’s propulsors and warping speed, but nothing. “Ugh, why won’t you talk?! How did it go again to get you talking?” He checked in Entrapta’s hand-written manual.
“Uh… Darla? Are you there?” Adora asked out, seeing Bow’s distress. The A.I.’s spheric hologram glitched hard and the voice that came out of it sounded like static. “Well, she IS here, but we can’t hear.”
“I think the disturbance that hit her messed up more than just the lights.” Catra commented. “But I think no one really picked up anything wrong before.”
“i know! It doesn’t make sense!” Bow covered his head in frustration. “Wait, maybe...” He picked up his tracker pad and opened a panel. “Catra, could you pick the wire?”
“Which one? There are dozens of wires!” She asked out, before getting electrocuted. Melog then realized the wiring on the ship had something with it… “Magic, there? Are you sure?”
“You were right. The disturbance’s magical energy actually infiltrated the ship’s wiring and maybe the flight capacitor as well! No wonder we’re stuck!”
“And no wonder Darla’s voice is messed up!” Adora looked over to the glitching sphere, and between the static, actually heard something.
“*kzzzt*-truder de-*krzzzt* Int-*kzzt*”
“Truder… Int-Intruder.” The blonde understood the message. “Wait, an intruder?!” Sounds coming from the corridor alarmed everyone in the control room.
Glimmer was shoved right in the direction of the map, but managed to teleport faster to behind who was attacking her, and holding her in their ground. Once the rest of the Best Friend Squad arrived, they saw Angella being held by Glimmer.
“Glimmer, what’s going on?!” Adora asked. “Why’d you attack your own mother?!”
“That’s NOT my mother!” She said at once. “I wondered why this whole thing looked weird, and then I caught her sneaking here, trying to take Bow’s map!”
“My map?! I-it’s not even finished, why’d she take it?”
“W-why, I was just trying to track our way home.” Angella got up as Bow lifted Glimmer up. ”W-we gotta go back fast, I have a kingdom to reclaim a-and lots of things I missed, right, Glimmer?”
“A-HA! You’ve just proved my point.” The actual queen pointed at her, Bow still holding her.
“Uh, she did?” Catra asked out, confused.
“Don’t you get it? My mom doesn’t call me “Glimmer”... she calls me “GLIMMAH”.” This observation from Glimmer surprised Bow and Adora: she was right. That WAS how Angella pronounced her name, even when not shouting.
“I still don’t see it, but I’ll take by your looks that this is true?”
“You’re not Angella… you’re the intruder!” Adora stepped forward, visibly upset and calling her sword. After a moment of silence, Angella seemed to cover her face, sobbing… only to reveal an evil cackle, and undoing her disguise by uncovering with one of her wings.
There, in front of the Best Friend Squad, stood a bird creature like the ones Adora saw through Bow’s P.O.V. recordings; this one taller, less feathered, but whose head feathers resembled a crown. Among the head feathers, she had one of Queen Angella’s.
“That’s a shame. This trip could’ve been easier if you’d just let go… I suppose I’ll have to take this thing out of here myself!” She said, with a mixture of calm and determination, before trying to reach for the door, but being blocked by Catra and Melog.
“No, you won’t, feather brain! Back off!”
“Oh, please… as if a cat person could scare the Queen of the Harpies.” She shrugged it off, not seeing Adora’s angry eyes glowing blue and her transformation behind her.
“How about a giant sword lady?” Catra looked at her smugly, and the Harpy looked behind to see a very angry She-Ra with her fists clenched. Bow and Glimmer stepped back as she tackled it. Even with her good stance, her firm claws and her strong kicks, she could not avoid the anger of the blonde warrior in front of her.
“Legends are true after all. You ARE a tough warrior!” The Harpy didn’t look as intimidated as she should.
“And you are a LIAR!” She-Ra screamed, aiming to punch the creature, but accidentally leaving a dent in the storage room’s wall. This made the others worry, especially with her moving Melog out of the way to pursue the Harpy.
“...Adora?” Glimmer asked, hesitantly.
The Harpy kept flying around the control room, avoiding the leaps and punch attempts of She-Ra, the ship moving a little from each movement.
“Can. You. Stay. Still!” She shouted during these attempts.
“Such raw power… intense magic! I knew there was something stronger out there to use!”
“I am NOT A THING!” She finally managed to reach the Harpy’s leg and threw her hard at the floor, aiming to punch more. “I am not a WEAPON! I am not gonna be used! I am-”
“ADORA, STOP!” Catra’s shout called her attention. As she looked at her girlfriend and friends' worried faces, she started to calm down and finally noticed the dents she caused during that chase. Melog then laid on top of the Harpy, preventing it from escaping, while She-Ra glitched, Adora processing what had just happened and tearing up.
“I… I didn’t mean to, I-” She covered her face, ashamed.
“I get that. Really, I’ve been there many times.” Catra assured. ”She tricked us all into rescuing her, not just you.”
”She used me.”
“Adora...”
“What she said got to me. She made me feel guilty about letting you save Angella by yourselves, made me feel like I was some essential, needed ‘tool’ to save her, and I listened! I’ve… fell for it again. Like every time with Shadow Weaver telling me I was meant to be obedient and serve the Horde, like every moment in the Rebellion when She-Ra was the ultimate solution to help the princesses, l-like when Light Hope convinced me I had a destiny to be a better She-Ra than Mara, like back at the crystals when I let Shadow Weaver talk me into accepting that stupid fail-safe!”
Bow and Glimmer watched, wide-eyed. Were those Adora’s honest feelings? And how long was she keeping them in and out of their knowledge?
“I thought I learned my lesson before almost dying to save Etheria, but I didn’t! I still let someone manipulate me, use me AGAIN! I’m still the same confused girl that keeps putting herself in trouble and doing reckless stuff without a second thought! Why am I such an idiot?!”
“You’re NOT an idiot!” Catra stated firmly, surprising Adora, who looked back at her. “...I am.”
“C-Catra-”
“I have a problem. We… have a problem, Adora.” A short silence followed, Catra letting She-Ra caress her face. “I thought I was helping you by not talking about… everything, but I should’ve known better. You always wanted me to stay with you, to speak with you, just as much as I wanted, but I wasn’t with you for that. I’m so sorry.”
“I… I’m sorry, too...” Adora said, calming down, the glitching stopping.
“Aw...” Glimmer said, before noticing that the Harpy was still under Melog, and hadn’t said a word. “Uh, sorry for breaking the mood, but she… stopped moving.” With a nod, Catra signaled Melog to move away, and approached the Harpy… before licking its face and making her open its eyes.
“Ack! How dare you?”
“Knew it, she was lying.” She said as she kept her on the floor. “Now, since you tried to get us to take you home, now YOU’RE gonna take us to YOURS.”
“Don’t talk to Queen Hunga like this!” The Harpy growled as she scratched Catra’s arm, making her let go to hold it. She-Ra then called for her sword, but turned it into a rope. “You don’t understand, that’s NOT my home. Etheria is!”
“You’re… Etherian?” Bow looked over to her. “I shouldn’t judge, but I don’t think we’ve seen anyone of your kind home.” This called Hunga’s attention, her eyes widening.
“... they no longer exist?”
“By they, you mean...” Glimmer asked out. It was no use resisting: she’d have to tell them something.
“The males. We Harpies lived in separate tribes, constantly moving from spot to spot on Etheria. Mountains, caves… but never together on the same spot. Unless for mating season. What they did afterwards meant very little to us, for our species had always lived this way, unbounded by a single home and even less by commitments.”
“Then how did you got there?” Catra asked out. “You and all your subjects?”
“After the last mating season, we were migrating to a new home...” Hunga remembered the last migration she made with her sisters.
“It was harder than the previous times however, for most locations seemed overtaken by males or other Etherians. And in no way I would accept there was no place for us.
Until the moment we were sucked into this place, surrounded by a tunnel of strange energy and only seeing a creature with red eyes before we all were trapped… in that miserable place.
Whenever a breach opened, it seemed to either drag or pull something out of there. We survived out of the bare minimum some of the formations provided, but were always trying to go further into any breach that appeared.”
“That is the farthest any of my kind has been since the trapping. And now with the males gone, the only chance of our species surviving is you taking me back to Etheria.”
“A creature with red eyes...” Catra reflected, and both her and She-Ra came to the same conclusion. “Hordak!”
“The portal that brought him to Etheria! But this was… many years ago.”
“And all those formations in that space… everytime a portal was opened anywhere, no matter who did it, something got dragged there.” Bow reflected. “But how come each piece seems to have its own laws of physics?”
“That is irrelevant, the most important was the magic they carried. Even the smallest specs mattered to us. And considering our guest’s power-”
“Your guest, my mom?! What exactly are you doing with her?!” Glimmer demanded to know.
“Only one way to find out for real, Sparkles...” Catra decided, glaring down at Hunga and then looking at Adora with both uncertainty and reassurement.
Everyone suited up again, while Bow attempted to repair things again, at least enough to get the ship closer to the closing breach. Outside, She-Ra channeled her magic to open it up again.
“Even if that space has a breathable atmosphere, we better not get careless.” He said, meddling with the wires. “A-ha!” A zapping electrical sound made the lights flicker for a moment, but ultimately made the ship move forward, to She-Ra’s surprise. Was she glad for not losing her balance as she aimed her sword and opened up the breach.
“Okay, Catra, you can go.” She warned, Catra taking the cue as Melog watched their “guest” closely. Both Glimmer and her walked forward, and She-Ra stayed put… at least for a moment. “Wait.” She held her girlfriend’s arm, sliding down her hand to hold hers. “I… I want to go with you. I stayed behind the last time because it’s your mission, but-”
“Dora… we don’t leave anyone behind. We’re the Best Friends Squad.” She reassured her with a smile. “Let’s all go.”
With that, the four of them entered the breach. Adora had to take a moment to take the light in, but was amazed with seeing that space in person. And a bit nervous.
“This… brings me back. But not in a good way.” She muttered, practically squeezing Catra’s hand. As they all removed their helmets, her feline ears picked up something. They had company.
The apparent whole flock of Harpies was charging against them.. and leading them was the one Glimmer punched.
“Come back for more, ugly?” The current queen of Bright Moon said out loud. “Well, we’re ready for y-” For her surprise, the Harpy pounced on the formation, launching them up; She-Ra then used her sword to shoo all the others away with her magic.
“She-Ra! They have She-Ra with them?!” One of the troops asked out.
“I thought she was a myth!” Another exclaimed. They were all in awe at the shining magic sword lady in front of them. Catra, Glimmer and Bow, who were laying in another formation, with very strong gravity, struggled to get off, as Gayda approached them.
“We have your queen, bird brain, so here’s the-” Glimmer was about to offer her something, until she covered her mouth and Bow’s, when he was about to protest. She hushed them afterwards, looking quickly down at the amazed troops.
“I knew this stupid plan my sister had would not work. I knew you would come back for Angella. So, please, please, just take her fast out of here.” She whispered, before removing her hands off their mouths.
“Wait… you’re helping us?!” Bow exclaimed, before she hushed him again.
“Are you even surprised?” Catra replied to that, and Glimmer reflected before nodding. She knew how it felt to be rescued by a supposed enemy.
“I’m her sister Gayda. We don’t have much time.” She said, scratching the surface around them to give them space to fight back the gravity. After being freed, Glimmer held to Bow and Catra and teleported them to a nearest formation.
“They escaped!” A Harpy on the back of the crowd in awe warned, snapping them off the distraction. Gayda then flew back down, divebombing the snitch and looking back at the group.
“Take Angella and go! Quick!” She shouted, shocking the others.
“She’s helping them?! Traitor!” The Harpy she was holding growled and kicked her off, before the crowd surrounded her, She-Ra rushing to join the others, but stopping to look back on her. Once more, her mind had a painful memory… one that made her form glitch for an instant.
“Come on, she pointed us that way!” Catra called out, a part of the flock in their pursuit. Adora came to her senses and followed them.
“Okay, let’s see...” As Bow leaped to a nearest formation, he looked over to it, testing the surface by kicking a small pebble. “Normal gravity, cold surface, take this!” He shot down a water arrow and a sticky arrow, and as they both spreaded, it formed a freezing trap around two Harpies. “Ha-ha, yes!”
Leaping to a warmer surface, Bow nodded to Catra and she pounced past She-Ra with a hiss, scaring another incoming Harpy and allowing Bow to shoot another sticky arrow, this one melting and trapping one of its feet on the surface. As she was grabbed from behind by another of the flock, She-Ra grabbed it by the arm and swung her off, throwing the Harpy at Bow, who greeted her with a stun arrow.
“Okay, stun arrows work on hot surfaces. Good info.”
“Looks like you’re over the crazy physics, arrow boy.” Catra complimented.
“I made it here, will make it even better when we get home!” He said, proud of himself, as they actually reached the mountain formation faster than before, She-Ra watching their back for more incoming Harpies.
Meanwhile, inside Darla, Melog watched as Hunga constantly checked her back and under her wrapped wing. Once she saw the cat creature sneezing, she made a sudden movement to the side, finally breaking free of the rope, having been weakening its hold on her with her sharp beak nose.
“Uh, is it just me or does this look like a mountain from Etheria?” Glimmer commented, as she looked over to the formation. “One that I saw in a book and a mural, but not in real life?”
“And you’re seeing this now because...” Catra asked out.
“I was so focused on saving Mom, or Hunga-mom, that I didn’t really pay attention.”
“Guess we know the answer for what happened now?” Adora pointed out. “But where is Angella?” Then, she had a strange feeling, looking at the formation. She touched it and allowed her magic to flow through it. The others did not understand, but let her be; Catra sniffed the surroundings, and looked up to a cave nearby.
“Sparkles...” Catra pointed at the specs of magic surrounding the cave’s entrance, before Adora stopped the flow feeling something apparently moving in the ground. Then, she looked back at the Harpy flock near the breach, glitching again.
Bow then tapped her shoulder and nodded, as Catra and Glimmer climbed up to the cave with a rope arrow’s help. No words were needed for her to know her choice wasn’t wrong… and she leaped, running towards the Harpies.
At the ship, Hunga avoided and attacked Melog, but stopped as she noticed a Harpy's arm pop out of the entrance for an instant before being pulled back. Now in the middle of that struggle, She-Ra repelled the other Harpies to protect Gayda.
Reaching the cave, Catra and Glimmer saw the real Angella, really weak, her wings with only a small portion of feather left in her previously gigantic wings. Her face showed clear signs of starvation, despite Catra noticing leftovers of what she could assume it was food.
“Glimmer, we have to hurry.” She recalled, but noticed her hesitation.
“I know, but… what if this is another trick? If this isn’t-”
“No!!” A shout called everyone’s attention. Bow had his bow and arrow ready to shoot at the very spot Adora felt moving, and a Harpy was flying towards him. “Don’t shoot!” Soon, the repelled flocks returned to the formation, Glimmer and Catra nodding and helping Angella up.
One final Harpy however remained, pushing Gayda at once towards the void of space, She-Ra gasping before leaping to her rescue and reaching her just in time, her magic preventing her from both lack of oxygen and freezing in space. As she breathed in and out and looked up to her savior, Hunga and Melog had stopped their fight, the Queen at a loss for words.
Leaping down from the cave, Catra and Glimmer approached Bow, who remained in the shooting position as the Harpies eyed him carefully.
“They have the magic giver… our Queen will not be pleased!”
“‘Magic giver’?” Catra looked up to the tired Angella. “Is that what your crazy Queen thinks of her?!”
“N-no… I have...” Angella attempted to say something, even though very weak. “I have...” Bow, stunned to see the state the former Queen was in, loosened his grip on the arrow he was pointing at the floor for a moment, before the Harpy that shouted approached them.
“Please! Don’t do this!” She insisted, Bow fumbling to get his arrow back in position. “Don’t shoot our babies!” The last phrase stopped his attempt, and shocked Catra and Glimmer, the rest of the Harpies rejoicing in the plea.
“...babies?” He looked down at the surface he was pointing at, and then kicked the dirt off the surface, shocking the Harpies, and uncovering what looked like a large egg. He also noticed many feathers covering it… Queen Angella’s feathers, judging by the color. However, these did not glow like the previous one. “This place… it’s a nest!”
At that moment, Catra looked back at the breach from a distance: it was growing bigger, and something was crossing it. There, into that dimension, Darla moved, She-Ra on top of it, both Hunga and Gayda inside with Melog. The flocks were taken aback by the gigantic construction in front of them.
Angella gave a faint smile, recognizing Adora, before fainting on both Catra and Glimmer’s arms. As She-Ra approached, followed by Gayda and Hunga, the flocks muttered against each other in confusion.
Glimmer looked down at the fainted Angella, both concerned and cautious, while Catra tapped her shoulder gently with a smile before nodding to Adora. She-Ra gently placed her hand in the former Queen’s face, and once more, allowed her magic to flow. The Harpies observed in awe as Angella’s tired appearance recovered, and her feathers seemed to glow and grow again.
“It… it’s you, right? Not another Harpy, or a clone, or-” Glimmer spoke as she descended, and opened her eyes.
“Glimmah!” Her exclamation was soft, her voice still a bit weak. “I just… need a moment.” The former Queen then was surprised by a sudden hug by a teary-eyed Glimmer.
“Sorry. This just can’t wait any longer.” Mother and daughter enjoyed their reencounter hug, Catra smiling fondly and relieved, and Bow’s eyes wide and teary.
“Your Majesty, the magic did not stay. The eggs did not move.” One of the Harpies finally said.
“Our guest is not a “magic giver”!” Another added. “Your plan didn’t work!”
“Of course it didn’t work!” Gayda spoke, Hunga looking down and not willing to say one more word. “She has been lying to all of us! She planned to leave us behind with our tired guest and go back to Etheria all by herself!” The Harpies gasped and talked among each other.
“But what about the nests? The babies?!”
“Nests?! With an S?” Bow asked out loud, remembering the explosion he caused the first time.
“Don’t worry, the rock you exploded was mere rock.” Gayda calmed him down and explained. “We laid our eggs in the bigger formations across this place, the Etherian mountain being the very first. We lived off of anything that came from any breach.”
“Hunga decided that we should venture through any breach we could, but neither of us could ever fully cross a breach, just picking whichever came from it, especially food and magic. As you might have noticed, every formation carries something strange in it.”
“However, for some reason, magic was a harder thing to keep in them, something we required as much as food… something our unborn children needed.”
“That’s when she appeared. Out of nowhere, unconscious… with wings seemingly filled with magic. Hunga did not waste time once she woke up, and demanded she give them the feathers. She only agreed when I spoke however; I showed her our eggs in the nests and believed that my sister still wanted to save our children. But after so many tries, so many feathers, and still the magic dissipating in the atmosphere… I realized that this plan was not working from the beginning. And I had the feeling she knew too.”
:”You… gave them the-” Glimmer asked Angella.
“I wanted to try saving the children. But knowing all that effort was for nothing...”
“Not really though.” Bow analyzed one of the eggs. “These little fellas ARE still alive, but very weak.”
“And you were just going to leave them?” She-Ra looked down at Hunga. “Leave all of these Harpies that trusted you, and all their children behind?”
“I was going to return for them-”
“How?” Catra demanded to know. “How can someone who has no way of opening a portal or keeping a breach open supposed to ‘return’? Why don’t you just tell them the truth?”
“The magic of Etheria is too precious to be wasted, being for food or to keep unhatched beings alive!” The Harpies’s shock was soon followed by a crowd of booing and angry shouts. “You are all doomed, but I didn’t have to be! I would just start a new colony once I was back in Etheria! And if our guest couldn’t help us enough, then her sacrifice would not be in vai-”
“ENOUGH!” She-Ra grabbed Hunga by the chest, not wanting to hear another word. “Don’t you talk to me about this sacrifice nonsense! Your stupid plan was going to finally doom your family and followers, and you don’t even care enough for your own sister, who almost died in space! You do not deserve to be queen of anything!” The Harpies rejoiced in She-Ra’s affirmal.
“She-Ra is right. You have lost my respect as a queen and family a long time ago, sister.” Gayda approached them. “And now, the respect of all of us. It is time to accept our situation. We can no longer live like this, surrounded by these formations, with our babies too weak to break from their shells. We might’ve survived for years out of this, but our guest almost didn’t make it. And I apologize you’ve suffered even more for this situation, Angella.”
“I only made it so long thanks to you and your kindness, Gayda.” Angella said. ”All the food you kept bringing me while they pulled out my feathers, your visits to the cave, our talks… Thanks to you, I didn’t feel so alone in this awful place. You show more than just your claws to care for others… and that’s why I think Gayda should be your new queen.” She looked over to the flock, who responded with excited talking and nods, knowing she was talking the truth.
“We are sorry, Gayda. We almost killed our true queen.” One of the Harpies affirmed.
“Do we deserve her after everything?” The one that actually pushed her said, hesitant over the situation.
“You’ll have a lot to talk about once we’re out of here. All of us.” She-Ra decided, looking over to the Best Friend Squad, Angella and the eggs on the nest.
Finally, Darla emerged from the breach, flying away as it started to close, leaving the space between dimensions behind.
All the Harpies’ eggs were placed in a room, surrounded by pillows and blankets; the respective mothers remained by their sides, watching them closely. All of the Harpies were fed, most of them crying in joy for having such delicious food.
“Then, I took Scorpia to reconnect to the Black Garnet, and everyone was super powerful, but then all their magic started to get drained, including mine, and I realized Adora was right about everything and I have been a terrible queen and not only took us off Despondos but put us right into Horde Prime’s aim!” Glimmer was catching up her mom on everything she’d missed. “And while I was in his ship with Catra, I could only watch from the screen as everyone was hunted or fought against his robots and clones, and thanks to her, I was free from there, but Bow would not forgive me, which is more than fair, and I’m glad we’re talking and even more than friends now, but I deserved every time he pushed me away after I came back-”
“Wait, Glimmah, just-” She stopped her for a moment. “You’re going too fast again.”
“I’m just… so glad you’re here. And so glad everything got better back home.” The current Queen said, eyes tearing up again. “Okay, where was I? Oh, yeah, I deserved every time he pushed me away after I came back, and I was more than sure everyone would do the same after confessing about the Heart of Etheria, but everyone knew thanks to Adora and Bow, so they WERE mad, but not that much...”
“Everyone comfortable?” Bow asked the nearby Harpies, who nodded. “If you need anything, just say it.” Catra and Adora were in the control room, Darla fully operational again. Gayda was nearby with a few Harpies, discussing something, Hunga being watched closely by Melog.
“We have something decided, Miss She-Ra.” She said, once they finished.
“You can call me Adora.” She assured, the Harpy nodding.
“Miss Adora, we would be very out of place after disappearing from Etheria. Even with the assurance that we’d be welcomed back and that magic is restored in it. We must migrate farther than a mountain or a cave.“
“A planet then?” Catra asked. “We’ve restored a planet near Etheria, one that was a pile of wreckage because of the First Ones and Horde Prime, but now with its magic back...” She looked over to Melog, who after a moment looking to the side, meowed in agreement.
“First stop on Krytis?” Adora asked to be sure.
“First stop on Krytis.” With Catra’s words, Darla redirected the coordinates. The Harpies looked amongst each other hopefully. Everyone would have a safe trip back home. Adora relaxed on the captain’s seat and Catra jumped on her lap.
“We’re going home, Catra. And we’ll have a lot to work on once we’re there.”
“And a lot to talk about as well. Things you might not be able to punch out… and some I never felt ready to tell.”
“Yeah...” Adora thought back at everything that happened. “Did you really mean what you said back there when we found out about Hunga? That you were an idiot, not me?”
“...the more I think back at the things I’ve done after you left the Horde, kind of. Yeah.” She admitted. “I made awful, idiotic and dangerous choices that hurt everyone and anyone near me… Choices I’m not sure I can truly discuss why were made.”
“It’s gonna be hard… and I’m not ready either. But I’m glad we’ll deal with it together.” Adora said, cupping the back of Catra’s head and caressing her hair, to which she purred. “All we ever wanted, right?”
“At long last, Dora.” Catra touched her forehead with her finger before coming closer for a kiss…
“It’s hatching! It’s hatching!” Bow’s screams startled them, Catra almost falling from Adora’s lap. The Harpies gasped in surprise and excitement. “One of the babies is hatching!”
“H-how?” Adora asked, recovering from the surprise.
“Do you need to ask, dummy?” Catra teased her with her finger pointing at her forehead, Adora putting two and two together: She-Ra’s power had flowed through the formation where some eggs were buried.
Soon, everyone was reunited at the room with the baby Harpy hatched, Angella looking at it with its mother, and looking back at Glimmer, remembering her time as a baby.
“Welcome to the world, my sweet boy.” The mother Harpy cooed, the baby weakly opening its eyes.
“That’s so sweet...” Catra softly commented. “I want one...”
“I don’t think they’d like you taking him.” Adora replied, Catra looking at her with a smug expression, making her realize what she meant. “Oh! Oh, you mean- Uh, well...”
“I mean, not right now.”
“No, sure, not now.” Adora laughed awkwardly, blushing with what her girlfriend was implying… but not denying the possibility. ”But maybe, one day...” As she said it, she kissed Catra on the cheek. Glimmer and Bow snickered, while Angella looked at them. Adora looked so much happier…
“Catra?” She called out, Catra hesitating and gulping as she looked at the former queen. She looked serious, but this faded as soon as she extended her hand… and pulled Catra to a hug, Glimmer and Bow being caught as well. “Thank you… and welcome to our family.”
*BG music: Aly and AJ - Don’t Need Nothing*
When you sleep through your alarm
Nothing is further from your mind
Even your hopes and dreams don't bother, don't bother
So don't lose your pace, don't fall behind
The room was filled with happy noises and excitement, Adora getting into the hug too and holding Catra’s hand while she teared up with a smile. Outside of Darla, as the ship got further and further away, the breach finally closed, with a small spec of purple light sparking up before vanishing.
(end credits transition)
A touch of the beat
Gets you up on your feet
Gets you out and then into the Sun
A touch of the beat
Gets you out and then into the Sun
Darla landed on Krytis, the construction and walls once seen by the Best Friend Squad covered in fauna with a few exposed pieces of metal, and the surface cleaner, allowing sunlight’s entrance. Catra and Adora sat on top of the cliff they walked through the first time they visited the planet, Melog joining them, the three watching as the Harpies took flight to explore the planet.
A touch of the beat
Gets you up on your feet
Gets you out and then into the Sun
A touch of the beat
Gets you out and then into the Sun
The Harpies soon found cozy places with flourishing magic to place their eggs in, digging holes in caves surrounded by plants and magic specs. Bow meanwhile looked over to Hunga and Gayda; the former queen refused to look at her sister, but picked up the fresh food she left nearby, the new queen of the Harpies nodding to the archer.
*instrumental*
As soon as all of them were settled, the Best Friend Squad waved goodbye to the Harpies before taking off to Etheria, the newborn included.
You know the devil's never far behind
But he isn't welcome here so don't bother, don't bother
In Beast Island, Entrapta rushed through the woods, reaching Hordak, who was finishing wiping the vines off the current location and of himself, adjusting his recolored hair. She spoke excitedly, showing him her own pad.
She then pressed a couple of buttons, transmitting a message.
A touch of the beat
Gets you up on your feet (I don't need nothing at all)
Gets you out and then into the Sun
A touch of the beat
Gets you out and then into the Sun (I don't need nothing at all)
In each kingdom, now having Horde Clones among its citizens, the Princesses received Entrapta’s message on their very own tracker pads, and immediately bolted off their thrones or activities with equal excitement.
A touch of the beat
Gets you up on your feet (I don't need nothing at all)
Gets you out and then into the Sun
A touch of the beat
Gets you out and then into the Sun (I don't need nothing at all)
Swift Wind, who was lying nearby Razz’s home, felt She-Ra’s presence nearing and bolted to the sky, Razz just walking out of her house and wiping the floor like usual. The alicorn saw where exactly the ship was heading to.
Don't need nothing, I don't need nothing
Don't need nothing, I don't need nothing
With the ship landed, the Best Friend Squad walked out with pride, the princesses and many other Etherians and Horde Clones greeting them with cheers, but stopping once Angella joined them.
Don't need nothing, I don't need nothing (I'm over turning over, I'm over turning over)
Don't need nothing, I don't need nothing (I'm over turning over)
Micah, who had rushed there to greet his daughter, making his way through the crowd, was as shocked as everyone else. As he cautiously approached, not sure how to react to what he saw, Angella teared up and leaped towards him, taking him in her arms and spinning in the air with him.
“So, after crossing half the universe, we came to a conclusion…” Adora explained, placing small pins in Bow’s new map, and showing it to the others in the Alliance. “She-Ra can’t save it all by herself. There are other planets to find in a really long distance… but to return their magic as well, we’ll need a plan.” She said, side smirking.
*music keeps playing till the credits end*