After so many years of war, it was finally over. The war-torn lands healed so well with She-Ra's help (and her own, of course, as flowers were definitely Perfuma's thing). Love blossomed (excuse the pun) as well, and with the fog of war and despair finally lifted the princesses could finally focus on rebuilding their kingdoms, their homes, and establishing an interconnecting alliance so strong that no one could ever fracture them again.
At least, that was what she hoped for, strived for, and she especially wished to nurture her budding relationship with a certain scorpion.
While the other princesses had their kingdoms to tend to, Scorpia had a kingdom to replant. Scorpia felt a certain responsibility to rebuild the Fright Zone into a home that would welcome her fellow scorpions. She spoke very little of her people to Perfuma, other than that they were loyal, brave, strong and gave great hugs (which felt more like a description of Scorpia herself rather than any other scorpion she had ever heard of, but Perfuma was always quick to provide a warm smile and agreement. She knew only one scorpion personally, and that one scorpion fit all of those descriptions so who was she to say otherwise?)
Perfuma wondered what the other scorpions were like – her own parents during their lives had little love for the Scorpioni, but it had been so long ago and Perfuma had been so young that she had never paid much attention to the why's or the details of a kingdom so far removed from her own. And now it was too late. Her parents weren't around to ask and her people had focused on keeping to themselves for the later portion of the rebellion. Scorpia's people were lost to time (and to wherever they've kept hidden for so long). She hadn't worried. Perhaps she would know who they were when they returned from wherever they hid – because surely they would return, now that they had a home to return to?
And being someone who frequented the Fright Zone to help Scorpia with replenishing life to the deadened wasteland, Perfuma would see them soon enough, right?
Right?
As the Fright Zone became more hospitable, former Horde members began to return and make a new home for themselves. It also drew others who had been driven from their homes by war or circumstances – she recalled noticing a few familiar faces from the Crimson Waste. Still, no scorpions.
For a time Scorpia never brought it up, the topic hanging in the air like a fog as she would ramble on about anything else – how beautiful Perfuma looked this evening, how wonderfully the flowers bloomed and the pleasant aroma they gave, how homey the Fright Zone was beginning to look, should they keep calling the Fright Zone the Fright Zone? It didn't sound so homey! But Scorpia wasn't sure if it was the name her people originally called it or if the name had been changed by the Horde when they arrived. It was a detail left out in Force Captain Orientation. With other creepy landmarks like Horror Hall, Fright Zone probably was a name from her people, so she should keep it, right? It was part of her heritage, wasn't it? And oh, the flowers in Perfuma's hair made her look even more beautiful than usual today, and that was really a feat because Perfuma always looked great!
Scorpia also frequently visited Plumeria, partially to get a glimpse of Perfuma's leadership of her own people as a guidance for what Scorpia herself should do (she found Perfuma to be such an awesome, kind and gentle leader! Everything Scorpia wanted to be!)…and partially just to see her, just to be near her, enjoy her company, and be helpful! Scorpia tried so hard and prided herself on being a very helpful scorpion! Her claws were indeed helpful for gardening, and her warm and loving presence quickly charmed the citizens of Plumeria (who were also well aware of the growing bond between the two princesses). Though Perfuma was happy just to have the other woman there, just being who she was.
Those first few months post the war had been blissful, and while Perfuma was certain Scorpia returned her feelings and the two did…many things that were beyond the scope of a typical friendship – hold hands, cuddle, sleep together in the same bed whenever one's visits would draw too late – she hesitated on making any sexual advances. Perfuma didn't worry so much about rejection as she worried that Scorpia would let her do whatever she wanted even if she wasn't ready, and escalate the relationship at a pace she wasn't comfortable with. While there were many gaps in Scorpia's past, Perfuma was aware of the abuse she suffered at the horde and from Catra. Worst of all, she had suffered it with a smile, defending those who'd hurt her and putting their feelings first.
Perfuma had been glad to see Catra put in the effort to rebuild a friendship with Scorpia, but it concerned her how quickly Scorpia cut off her apology and accepted her back without so much as a discussion. The princess of Plumeria at that point didn't fault Catra for trying, and she had appreciated the effort the other woman had made to help Scorpia when she had been under Prime's control. Perfuma hadn't agreed with her methods and had shut her right down at the time – and she stood by her decision then and now – but Catra's heart had been in the right place, and she acknowledged and worked to amend the pain she caused. That was worth something.
What worried her was Scorpia's dismissal – her forgiveness of Catra before an apology was finished and avoiding the magicat's other attempts to complete the apology and instead jumping immediately back into a close friendship before the wounds had a chance to be cleaned of the infection the abuse had caused…her avoiding the topic of her people, her past, even as she scrambled to make a home for those who, as far as Scorpia and Perfuma knew, willingly gave her up to the Horde without so much as a thought.
At one point, while Scorpia was visiting Perfuma in Plumeria and they were assembling flower garlands by hand, Perfuma guided the conversation to the Fright Zone's progress, to Scorpia's people…who have still yet to show up. All these months and not a single scorpion.
Perfuma paused, lowering the garland to her lap as she watched Scorpia. "Not a word from them, either?"
"Heh, well, you know, maybe they just…maybe they're just happy with where they are now. Maybe they've got their own…I don't know, super secret kingdom somewhere. Maybe they don't need me," Scorpia uttered the last bit with a stammering laugh. "I mean—I was so young when they gave—w-when I left—when I became part of the Horde. They knew I'd be happier there and maybe they're happy with where they are and everything's fine how it is now!"
Perfuma's brows knit with concern. "Scorpia.."
Beads of sweat formed on the former Force Captain's brow as she continued. "-And it's not like…I don't know, some exclusive party for just scorpions! Other people are coming and it's great! Everything's great! Really coming along!" She quickly tapped her claws together. "And those flowers you brought are beautiful! Skull plants—I-I remember Shadow Weaver had those in her garden and she'd get so mad when Emily messed with them. A-and in speaking of which Hordak and Entrapta've completely revamped their lab and are now helping me set up a whole new, totally not evil power grid for the New Fright Zone!"
Scorpia's words cut off when Perfuma gently grasped her claw between her hands.
"Scorpia, just so you know, it's okay to not be okay with some of this."
Scorpia paused, hesitant, and offered the blonde a bashful smile.
"N-not okay with what?"
Perfuma gave the hard exoskeleton a gentle squeeze, the roughs edges pressing against her soft palms. There was so much she worried for, but she kept it to the topic at hand. "That no scorpions have returned yet." She took a slow breath as she mulled over her words carefully. "…are you sure things happened the way you were told?" She ran her thumbs gently along the top of Scorpia's claw. "Scorpia… I've never seen a scorpion other than you."
"Heh… yeah, me neither—n-not that I can remember. Obviously I've seen other scorpions before, because I've got a picture of me with my Moms and I had to have seen them for that!" Scorpia laughed humorlessly, scratching the back of her scalp with the jagged edges of her arm's exoskeleton. "Thanks! But I'm okay! Really! My people might just be really happy with wherever they are right now! Made new homes for themselves…somewhere hidden… really, really well hidden. I mean, my people weren't exactly beloved even before the Horde came. I don't know what they did but they probably didn't have anywhere to go after the Horde took—after they…ah… let the Horde stay and decided to leave themselves. Probably took some time to make it into a home and now they don't wanna go anywhere else!"
Scorpia's voice trailed off as she noted the concerned look on Perfuma's face. She clicked her unheld claw. With a slow breath, she averted her gaze. Her smile faltered.
"…I don't know where they are. I'm not even sure that they're…alive or here or that I'm not the only one left. But Entrapta's my friend, and she's with Hordak, and Hordak's…kind of reformed…or reforming? They're helping me rebuild the Fright Zone, and can do things I can't even wrap my head around. They can do…so much good for our new Kingdom…and the Horde's the only family I've known, even if they weren't…ah… good… family," She paused, looking away, focusing on nothing, really. "I… I don't want to ruin a good thing by thinking about stuff that'll put me at odds with them, you know? I don't wanna make Hordak mad or upset Entrapta and it's not like any good can come of it now. It's better not to think about it."
Perfuma nodded, rubbing the other woman's claw between her hands.
Scorpia's dark eyes shifted to their point of contact, enjoying the vague sensation of pressure. She had limited feeling in her claws – or any part of her exoskeleton – compared to the rest of her body, but she nonetheless appreciated the contact. The scorpion was an incredibly affectionate woman by nature, always had been, and relished any form of touch.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to…but pushing your feelings down so you don't make waves with others will hurt you. It'll come up in other ways, later, in ways that are harder to deal with. You have the biggest heart…and are so quick to sacrifice yourself for everyone else, even those who've hurt you. Just…you deserve that same consideration, too."
"Mm," Scorpia's eyes wavered but she forced a smile, unsure of what to say. After a pause, she leaned in to hug Perfuma with her free pincer.
Noting the silence, and returning her embrace, Perfuma continued. "Just know…if you ever want to talk about it, to me or if you ever want to get answers from Hordak, you don't have to do it alone. I can be there with you, to help talk you through it, or to support you as to ask, and get the answer to, those questions,"
The hug lingered for a long, long moment. Neither woman was one to break affection, or be the one to pull back from a hug. Perfuma rubbed circles into the small of the other woman's back, relishing in the warm and strength of Scorpia's embrace.
Ultimately, Perfuma pulled back but managed to pull the other woman with her, guiding her to the blonde's bed to spend the night. The Fright Zone could wait until the morning for her return, after all. Scorpia immediately obliged – she always did – wrapping her claws around the other woman and snuggling close.
Perfuma wrapped her thinner arms around the larger woman's neck. With the heavy topic behind them, at least for now, the two spoke quietly of lighter topics and enjoyed each other's warmth and company.
It wasn't until the night had faded to morning, and Perfuma awoke to find herself alone that a nagging feeling of something is wrong tugged at her. It wasn't like Scorpia to run off without a goodbye.
Sitting up, Perfuma found a note by her bed along with a cooling cup of tea. The note said "Had to take care of things at the Fright Zone! Didn't want to wake you! I made you some of my Family's Soothing Tea! I hope you like it! Xoxo" and a quick sketch doodle of the two of them as stick figures holding hands. It was a sweet gesture, and one Perfuma hoped to return when she saw Scorpia next. Maybe not the stick figure part. Perfuma's art was in flowers and sculpture, not so much drawing or music. The latter were Scorpia's strengths.
At the very least, she would thank Scorpia and find out what happened at the Fright Zone to call her companion's attention so urgently when they spoke that night. While the two frequently visited each other, when they were apart they spoke via video chat almost daily.
However, that evening when Perfuma called, Scorpia answered but her demeanor was…distant. Not the cool, I'm-secretly-mad-at-you kind of distant, no…Perfuma could tell that wasn't the case because Scorpia's tone was soft and she was as sweet and forthcoming with her words and compliments as she always was. No…it was a distance that felt more like a weariness? Perhaps exhaustion? Scorpia's responses were sluggish, sometimes incomplete, as if she hadn't fully listened to what was being said. She sometimes repeated questions. Distracted, perhaps?
"Scorpia? Is everything okay over there?" Perfuma asked. "Did something happen?"
After a pause, Scorpia smiled brightly to the camera. "Oh, here? Oh no! No, no! Everything's great! Going great. Just…been a long time. I'm kinda tired."
"Oh, well I don't want to keep you-"
"No! Please do! I like talking to you," Her bright smile remained. "Please? How're things going with Plumeria, and those meditation sessions with Catra?"
Perfuma's brow furrowed with worry, but she pushed it aside for now and answered Scorpia's questions. Perhaps it had been a rough day and talking to her was a comfort? If so, Perfuma would wait until the other woman was ready to talk about it, and in the meantime keep and enjoy her company.
However, as the days elapsed whatever weighed on the scorpion's mind seemed to grow heavier, or at least affected her more openly? Perfuma could see it in their messages to each other – Scorpia's answers were growing shorter, with more typos than usual (it wasn't unusual to find typos as Scorpia struggled to use electronics with her large claws, but they were getting notably worse).
When they had video chats, Scorpia eventually stopped using video and only relied on audio. She never gave a proper reason for it, stammering that it was better for her to just use audio right now. Her voice seemed affected, too – her answers more sluggish, her voice more worn, but tinged with…a kind of manic energy. Perfuma gauged it as anxiety, but it was hard to tell.
Each day, each discussion tightened around Perfuma's heart. Something was wrong.
What was Scorpia not telling her?
"Scorpia? Are you okay? You don't sound well."
"Oh! Ohh I'm fine! I'm okay, I'm okay!"
"Why don't you come to Plumeria tomorrow? I'd love to see you."
"I'd… I'd like that. I'd really like that, but I can't. I have.. I have too much I need to take care of at the Fright Zone."
Perfuma bit her lip. She too had too many obligations in Plumeria to visit the Fright Zone for at least a few more days, but concern tugged at her.
"How about I come see you then? I can't come tomorrow but I can come in a few days." Perfume smiled into the camera, keeping hers on even while Scorpia left hers off.
"Oh man, I'd…" there was a hesitance that made Perfuma's heart sink. "…Gosh.. I'd.. …I'd really like that. I'd love to see you."
There was something in her voice that made Perfuma nervous. "…Scorpia, are you sure you're alright?"
"Oh yeah! I'm fine! I can't wait to show you how the skull plants are growing! They're so…skull-like, now! Wow! And Entrapta and Hordak've got power running all over the Fright Zone! All of the homes here now have power, even the ones that still look like rubble! Can't wait to show you!"
Perfuma smiled softly. "Well, I can't wait to see them, and to see you."
"… I can't wait to see you, too. Really."
Perfuma's warm smile remained as she looked into the void of the camera, until the call concluded and her smile faded.
Something was seriously wrong.
Perfuma's fears amplified the next day when her messages returned with…nothing. Her video call remained unanswered, both that night and the next.
This wasn't like her. The last week or so leading up to this wasn't like her. While there was always a possibility that Scorpia's feelings for her were fading it just…didn't feel to her like that was the problem. The former Force Captain was a woman who loved fully, deeply and with an intensity that remained true and steadfast. She wasn't a woman to just lose interest, or to fake feelings that weren't there.
No…it felt like there was something else going on.
She called Frosta, who immediately picked up.
"Heeey!" Frosta grinned as she raised both fists on screen – which were both covered in ice.
"Hi Frosta!" Perfuma said with a smile. "Hey, have you talked to Scorpia lately?"
"Noo, not in the last whole week," Frosta pouted. "She said she'd come make ice sculptures with me and she flaked! She never flakes! I know she's been busy with the Fright Zone, and I haven't been able to help that much with it, with my own Kingdom and stuff but…" Her brows furrowed with worry as she clinked her ice fists together in a manner similar to the way Scorpia clicked her claws when she was anxious. "…I… I hope she's not mad at me."
Perfuma watched Frosta on screen, her own heart sinking more and more as she listened. Scorpia loved that little girl. She would never ignore her, ignore Perfuma. She loved her friends.
She pushed herself up, pulling the communicator with her. "Frosta…how was she the last time you spoke with her?"
Frosta shrugged, furrowing her brow. "She sounded kinda distant. Annoyed maybe? Though she did call me little buddy and she wouldn't do that if she was mad at me, right?"
"You're right. She wouldn't," Perfuma concerned expression met Frosta's. The younger girl dissolved the ice encasement on her fists.
"Why do you ask? Is she not talking to you either?"
"Because something's wrong," Perfuma said urgently. "I'm sure of it. Can you meet me at the Fright Zone today?"
"We're gonna look for her?" Frosta asked. Perfuma nodded, wide-eyed. The ice princess punched her hand into her fist. "Yes! I'll be there!"
"See you there!" Perfuma said before hanging up. She quickly rushed to arrange for her most trusted subordinates to take care of Plumeria in her stead. Whatever was happening in the Fright Zone, she had a feeling Scorpia was in trouble.