"Plumeria" Bow said in a hush.

"Oh, that's bad." Glimmer said. "remember the last time Plumeria was attacked? The Horde nearly poisoned every acre of land in the kingdom. I don't wanna think about what Belos could do to Perfuma's Heart Tree"

Adora looked thoughtful. "if we're going to Plumeria, we should call Swift Wind. He loves their apples"

Amity raised her eyebrow. "You have a friend with a magic tree named…Perfuma?"

Adora hesitated. "Wow, I never noticed that. A lot of us have like, really appropriate names"

"I love fantasy names" Luz said excitedly. She cleared her throat and struck a dramatic pose.

"I am the good witch Luzura!"

"The what now?" Catra asked.

Glimmer growled in frustration. "Guys, focus! We need to get to Plumeria, now! Gather around"

"Not this again" Eda groaned.

"We're too old for this" Hop Pop complained.

"Speak for yourself, you old frog"

Anne and Sprig grinned excitedly.

"Glimmer's teleporting makes me so sick!" Sprig said.

"I know!" Anne said cheerfully.

"Idots" Polly muttered.

"You're gonna love this" Luz took Gus, Willow and Amity's hands. Amity's face went bright red.

"Hang on!" Luz shouted.

There was a bright light and suddenly they were in a beautiful meadow full of flowers.

Gus fell on his backside. He grinned widely. "That DID make me sick!"

"It's great!" Sprig helped him up.

Willow and Polly gave each other long suffering looks.

Amity wasn't so lucky. She fell face first onto a patch of violets, books flying everywhere.

Luz gave her a hand. "Uh, thanks" Amity stammered.

Anne gave Luz the thumbs up. Luz blushed.

Willow gasped. "look at all these beautiful flowers. She smelled one and used her magic to

make it grow.

"I'm glad you like them"

A girl in a long dress and a flower crown was walking towards them. She had a peppy, bubbly expression and her hands were clasped as if in prayer.

"Perfuma!" Glimmer called, waving.

Perfuma hugged Catra who was nearest to her. Catra tensed but didn't push her away.

"Have you been doing the meditation I taught you?"

Catra blushed and murmured "Yes, but I don't want to talk about it here, Princess"

Perfuma just continued to smile serenely. "So what brings you to Plumeria?"

Her smile melted when she saw their grave faces. "And why do feel like these people are reinforcements?

Glimmer put her hand on Perfuma's shoulder. "We have a problem"

After Perfuma was brought up to speed on the situation her expression became uncharacteristically hard.

"I see. Well, lucky for us, I learned a few tricks fighting the Horde."

She put her hands on her Heart Tree and closed her eyes. She concentrated, beads of sweat on her forehead.

A loud rumble shook the earth and everyone struggled to keep their footing.

Like a dome closing on a stadium, a pink force field studded with white flowers rose above the kingdom.

"Wow" Luz breathed. She looked at Amity with sparkling eyes. "someday I'll be doing magic like that."

Amity smiled softy. "I know you will"

Anne elbowed her. "Yeah you will"

Perfuma nodded in satisfaction. "He wont be getting through that. Let him try"

"Please don't say that" Adora said with a shudder. "We have a habit of getting jinxed"

Perfuma seemed unfazed. "In any case, since everyone is here, why don't you all join the feast?"

"There's always a feast in Plumeria" Adora whispered to Luz. "Its pretty great"

Purfuma set them up at the enormous banquet table under the Heart Tree.

Adora immediately ate everything sweet in sight while Glimmer cheered her on. Catra laughed. "Idiots" she said affectionately.

Polly bounced onto the table next to Bow and they shared a dry look.

Hop Pop and Eda were having a drinking contest that King was officiating. He brought out the bet book.. "King bets Eda she'll lose the contest"

"I'll take that bet, you furry menace to society!"

"Get ready to lose!" Hop Pop declared.

"Step right up, step right up" Gus cried like a circus show runner. His illusion Guses ran around the table making making faces at the native Plumerians.

Amity and Luz were curled up on the edge of the table reading Lance and George's book on She Ra.

Anne approached them rubbing her neck. "I don't mean to intrude but do you think…I could read with you?"

Luz smiled and patted the cushion next to her.

Amity blushed and her eyes widened. "What? I don't want to be alone with Luz or anything" she laughed nervously.

Anne plopped onto the ground. "it's just…if Marcy doesn't have her Switch in her face she has a book. This…makes me feel close to her, I guess."

Luz hugged her and Anne melted into the friendly embrace. "You'll see them again. Just like I'll see my Mami again"

Anne held back tears. "Thanks guys" she said in a small voice.

Willow was admiring Perfuma's flower crown.

"Do you want one?" Perfuma raised her hand and a crown of daffodils sprung to life on Willows' head.

Willow giggled. "I can do that too" she drew a green circle in the air and a corsage appeared on Perfuma's dress pocket.

Perfuma clapped.

"Also I can make plants that attack people" Willow said, creating a venus fly trap that roared.

Perfuma winked. "Me too. People always think I'm weak because my power is plant life. But we know better, don't we?"

Willow's laugh died in her throat as she noticed a shadow on the edge of the force field. A shadow with protruding dear antlers.

She pointed a shaking finger "Guys?" Everyone was talking. "GUYS!" she screamed.

That got everyone's attention. Slowly, everyone looked where she was pointing.

There was general chaos as everyone stood up and scrambled to defend themselves. Anne drew her sword and tennis racket. Luz and Amity prepared spells.

"For the honor of Greyskull!" The Best Friend Squad prung into action as one. Hop Pop put up his dukes for all the good that would do them.

"Weh? I vote we run, Eda" King tugged at Eda's hair.

"Yeah, that tracks"

"Let me at him!" Sprig shouted, brandishing his slingshot.

"No, me!" Polly said, drawing Old Doris.

"No! Everyone, back!" Perfuma said. She raced to the force field as Belos struck it. After three strikes, a hole ripped in the pink barrier.

Perfuma strained to keep the barrier up.

"I can't hold it!"

Willow's brow set. "Yes. You can" slowly, deliberately, she put her hand onto Perfuma's, lending her strength.

Everyone froze. The Heart Tree pulsed and glowed so brightly everyone shielded their eyes

Everyone except Perfuma and Willow. They were both glowing too, bright pink, their bodies and their eyes.

With a savage roar they pushed with all their might against Belos and he was thrown off.

He picked himself up and dusted himself off. "Bah! Half Witch." He snarled. "Yes, Lilith did say her sister's protege had...interesting companions. It is no matter." He turned and walked away.

Everyone cheered. Perfuma hugged Willow tightly. Willow looked woozy and her glasses were askew.

"What…what happened?"

Anne gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder.

"Ow"

"You saved us, is what!"

"Sorry about that" Perfuma said "I guess the Heart Tree's magic rubbed off on you"

Perfuma threw a meaningful look to the Best Friend Squad. "I think it's time we get the Alliance back together"

To be continued...