Etheria
It was in that moment, as they hurtled between buildings relying only on a slim rope and grappling hook (that had somehow come out of an arrow no thicker than a pencil) to not send them plummeting to their deaths hundreds of feet below, that Glimmer wondered if perhaps this version of Bow was a little crazy. Not just because no part of this apparatus looked like it could realistically hold both their weights. Or because THIS was his best idea for sneaking them into another part of the castle unseen? Rather it was because of the absolute maniacal glee in his eyes as he shot the arrow, tugged her to his side and jumped out the window, grinning like this was some cherished ritual between the two of them and not a brush with certain death.
She hadn't screamed. That was something, at least. Of course, that was because she was so terrified she'd basically frozen, clinging to Bow so tightly it wouldn't surprise her if she'd left marks. It had only taken a few blood curdling seconds before they'd swung neatly through a window in what she was almost certain had to be some kind of violation of the laws of physics. Bow landed as neatly on his feet as though he'd just launched himself over the sofa back home but it took her a full minute to unclench her fingers from around his waist, her legs wobbling so badly she had to lean against the nearest wall.
"Glad that worked," Bow said casually, giving the rope a flip with his wrist that made it detach from its hook point far above the window. Glimmer tried not to think about how well it had been anchored if he could remove it that easily. Maybe things like gravity worked differently here. He caught the grapple and coiled the rope without even looking. "Though I had a net arrow on standby, just in case."
Glimmer wasn't sure what good a "net arrow" would have done them or even what, exactly, that was, but she nodded, trying not to look like she was breathing like a racehorse. WHAT kind of life had they all been living over here that had turned her dorky best friend into some kind of daredevil? Her Bow had nearly had a heart attack the one time she'd leaned slightly out of a Ferris Wheel to wave to Adora on the ground below. She tried to picture that Bow swinging between buildings on fuzzy physics and dumb luck. It involved a lot of high pitched screaming.
"Is that... is that something you do often?" she managed. Bow tucked the rope into his quiver and then smiled at her as if to say, wasn't this all great fun?
"Not as much anymore." He sounded almost wistful as he wrapped his arm around her waist. The intimacy of the gesture surprised her, but she was grateful for the support because her legs still felt like jelly. "But, come on, we don't want anyone to see you until we've gotten you changed."
"...so then Catra told Adora she loved her just as the heart activated, they kissed, and, boom, the power of love saved the universe."
"That's kind of amazing, actually." Glimmer held up the... jumper? romper? thing? Bow had handed her to the bathroom mirror and tried to figure out exactly how it was supposed to go on. The clothes were some kind of fancy fantasy grade spandex, with a sparkle and gem motif. Pretty, but bizarre. The fashion sense in this place was like crime fighting circus performer meets Camelot business casual. "Are they completely insufferable about it?"
"Oh, yeah. Constantly. Never shut up about it." She could hear him chuckle from the other side of the bathroom door and couldn't help but smile. "But they did save the entire universe. I guess they've earned being a bit obnoxious."
"My Catra and Adora are like that, too. Like they're the main characters and the rest of us are just hapless sidekicks there to support their epic love story." She stacked her ripped shirt and pajama pants in a sad little pile on the fancy counter top. That must be how she looked, plunked in the middle of this strange world. She shifted them so they were closer to the sink that was clearly Bow's, the products unfamiliar but the order of them similar enough to how he kept things at home. The other sink was a disaster of haphazardly stacked feminine products and half-empty bottles of creams and soaps.
She was still getting her head around the whole "Bow is King here" thing. His bedroom out there had to be larger than the entire floor of their apartment building back home. It was almost too much. Rich fabrics draped everywhere, plush chairs, FAR too many pillows, crystals twinkling from the ceiling, floating steps that lead up to a small bookcase embedded halfway up the wall and that was just the stuff she'd noticed at first glance. Even here in the bathroom, everything was polished and gleaming, lined with gold and embedded with gems.
Also, there was a random waterfall in the corner. She wasn't really sure what that was about. Maybe showering?
"So that was the end of Prime," Bow continued, and she struggled to keep up with the story. He was clearly skipping a lot for her benefit, and she wasn't sure if she followed most of it. "Do you have him in your world?"
"No. Well… maybe? We have a thing called Prime with an egomaniac overlord who runs it, but his evil is more like… poor working conditions, dodge-y commercial practices, live action reboots no one asked for or wants. Stuff like that." Though if it would help their bottom line, she could honestly see Amazon expanding to other planets and cloning brainwashed workers. Seemed to be the track they were on, honestly. "Maybe back home we've still got the whole alien invasion thing to look forward to!"
"Gosh, I hope not." He didn't seem to realize she was kidding. "Though, if you do, I know you'll be able to deal with it. You can handle anything."
Aw. Even here, her best friend was still a great hype-man. Something about the soft way he said it had her blushing again.
Disney Prince-ifed Bow was throwing her off. He was different from her Bow, and not just in appearance. He was more confident, more… dashing? Maybe it was the whole cape and crown King-aura or the way everything here looked so glossy and unreal, but it was too easy to tell herself that things were different between them here.
"Well, I don't know about that." She'd managed to get the main jumpsuit part on but was having a hell of a time pulling the leotard over top of it. She didn't see how you were supposed to get this thing on outside of just appearing inside of it every morning. "I can't even seem to handle these clothes."
"You want me to—Uh, wait. I probably shouldn't."
"It's OK. I think I've got it." With a final tug, she got her other arm through. After a few adjustments, she fastened the cape over her shoulder and regarded herself in the mirror.
Whoever's clothes these were, they fit perfectly. Weird. The style was still odd, but she had to admit it suited her. She tried not to think too much about how it highlighted her every dimple and thunder thigh in glossy lavender when she'd normally try to cover all that up, but hopefully the gemstone on her chest and twinkly cape distracted from problem areas.
Or maybe this was some kind of utopia where nobody gave a shit about stuff like that. Maybe here everyone considered someone shaped like her to be hot shit. Wouldn't that be nice?
"I'm sorry to have to make you change." There was a light tapping, like Bow was bouncing his foot against the wall as he leaned. Hers did that too when he got agitated. "But that's what I was trying to explain. I don't know what they mean on your world, but here the rips, the slashes are a loyalists thing. The way the separatist clones show they are incomplete without their 'beloved brother.'" He didn't even try to hide the disdain in his voice. "And, especially today, with everyone on edge because of this meeting, it'd be impossible for me to sneak you across the castle without attracting attention in that shirt. And the LAST thing we need right now is for you of all people to look like you're a sympathizer."
"I understand." She didn't, really, because he'd definitely lost her on the whole good clones vs bad clones, right and wrong Hordaks thing but she understood enough to know it was important. She ran a brush through her hair to make it do something regal enough to match her clothes but ended up just sweeping it to the side like she always did. "Alright. I think I'm ready."
She opened the bathroom door, feeling more than slightly like an idiot playing dress-up, until Bow pushed off the wall, his entire face lighting up as he saw her. She blushed and resisted the urge to cover up as his eyes traveled over her curves. Would it kill the fashion in this place to leave at least SOMETHING to the imagination? Even though she knew he was probably just checking to make sure it fit, she couldn't help but feel incredibly self-conscious.
"So… how do I look?" She spun, mostly to break the awkward moment.
"Beautiful." How the fuck did he do that? Make warmth travel through her entire body with just one word? Her Bow never looked at her like this. This one confidently held her eye contact instead of looking away as soon as he caught her staring.
Damn it, snap out of it. You are going home any minute now. This isn't your Bow, isn't your world! She had to keep reminding herself because the too perfect look of everything here, the fantastical fairy tale feeling of being in a literal castle with her best friend who was apparently King… It had all started to feel like some perfect romantic fantasy of her own creation.
"Hmm. Your hair is longer. I'd offer to cut it for you, but you won't be here much longer, so— Here." He gestured towards the vanity in the corner of the room and pulled out the cushion for her. "Let me see if I can style real quick it so the length's not so noticeable."
She took her seat, then had to get up because she'd sat on the cape. She flipped it behind her and settled down again, watching through the mirror as Bow ran his fingers through her hair. Her Bow would reach for her hand if she was sad and would never say no to a hug, but there was something different here. Even in the short time they'd been together it seemed like this Bow was constantly touching her: his arm around her waist as they walked down the hallway, his hand resting on the small of her back as they stepped into the bedroom, a light touch on her arm as he handed over the clothes. She flushed, thinking of the way he'd basically scooped her up by her ass before he swung them out the window.
She watched him in the mirror, the tip of his tongue sticking out as he concentrated. "It's funny. Back home you're always offering to cut my hair and I never let you."
He looked downright offended. "Why not? I always cut your hair!"
Really? That was unusual, wasn't it? Shouldn't a literal king have more important things to do than cut his secretary's hair? But she was enjoying his gentle attention too much to complain. Maybe she should start to let her Bow do her hair, even if was just another way to torture herself with things she couldn't have.
Though she had it here, didn't she? She relaxed fully for the first time since she'd gotten to this world, enjoying his fingers brushing against her neck, feeling like a pampered princess surrounded by all this splendor. And she knew they were in a hurry, that they had to switch her back right away, but all of this was so much better than her life at home.
Was it so bad if maybe she didn't want this adventure to end yet?
Bow grabbed a clip from the assortment scattered across the vanity. Oddly shaped bottles of what must be makeup and perfume were strew randomly all over the surface. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the small purple pillow in the center, a thin golden circlet and single pearl earring nestled in the center. Maybe a spare?
"Well, it won't fool our friends, but it's good enough to get you back to the summoning circle and I don't want to waste anymore time." He gave her hair a last brush with his fingertips and stepped back. She marveled at his handiwork, her extra hair twisted upward in twinkling clips so it wasn't as noticeable. Thank god she'd touched up the pink and few days ago so her roots were covered up. "OK, let's go. Just a short walk across the castle and then I'll have my Glimmer back and everything will be normal."
"Right." It still came out small and strangled.
Bow picked up on it immediately. "Are you OK?"
"Yup." She got to her feet quickly, mostly so he couldn't see her face in the mirror, and went for the boots that he'd placed outside the wardrobe for her.
What was wrong with her? Going home was what she wanted, wasn't it? She didn't belong here! She sat on the edge of the massive bed to pull on the boots and caught sight of herself in the long golden mirror in the corner. For the first time in a really long time, she liked what she saw. But what did that matter if it was all going to end in a few minutes?
"Anyway, you were saying? About the clones?" Maybe if she could get him talking again, he'd stop hovering and she could be an emotional disaster in peace. "I thought you said Prime was gone?"
"Oh, well, he is. And most of his former clones are grateful for that. To them, Prime's death meant freedom. They're good people that Prime hurt as much as anyone who are just trying to heal and move on as best as they can. We count many of them as friends, good friends. But the others…" He sighed, shouldering his bow and quiver. "Look, I know I'm biased and not just because of the war and what they did to you. I certainly don't know what it's like to suddenly find yourself disconnected from a hive mind or to have the only way of life you've ever known destroyed over night. Not to mention that it's been years and some people still can't trust them. Which I get it! Sometimes I'll see one that hasn't dyed their hair, still wears the traditional whites, and, in that moment, it's like we're back there on his ship fighting for ours lives."
What the clones did to… her? What did that mean? She was desperately curious to ask, but he was talking about something that clearly upset him and it seemed incredibly rude to ask if the story could be more about her.
"And it's complicated. Because, diplomatically, we don't want to disrespect their beliefs and it's a fine line—" He clenched his fists at his side, his voice suddenly rising in volume as he paced. "But when their beliefs amount to worshiping a warlord who's destroyed millions of worlds, when they put on a real good show of peace for the public but I have had them say— to my face!— that they want to bring back their 'glorious leader' by soaking the ground with the blood of the queen? Of She-Ra? Then I don't care who you are, if you go after the people I love—"
He stopped, nostrils flaring, trying to get control of himself. She couldn't remember ever seeing Bow this angry. But obviously he'd feel passionately if these clone loyalists were trying to kill his…
Oh, my God. Suddenly, it all made sense. The feminine products on the second bathroom sink, the second crown on the vanity, the earring that perfectly matched the one he wore. This room, this bed, this Bow, this LIFE. It belonged to the queen.
To his fucking WIFE.
"Glimmer? Are you OK?"
"Me?" She laughed, too pinched and high. "I'm fine!"
"No. You're upset, and it's my fault. I shouldn't have… I'm sorry. I got worked up and shouldn't have mentioned any of that. You're leaving, you didn't even need to know. But you don't have to worry, I'd never actually let them—"
"I said it's fine!" She turned away from him, suddenly having a lot of feelings about the fact that these were obviously his wife's clothes. So he wasn't just married, he was apparently married to a woman with her exact body type. Tears started sliding down her cheeks faster than she could wipe them away. Nice to know that the problem really was just her and her shitty personality!
"Hey. Talk to me." He came to her side and was touching her again, his hands on her arms. WHY was he always touching her if he was fucking married to someone else? Why was he cutting her hair and looking at her all gooey and telling her she could handle anything? Did this crazy daredevil version of Bow know how she felt and just enjoyed playing games with her heart like it was some stupid trick arrow? Somehow that was even worse than him being indifferent!
She shrugged him off and rounded on him. "You talk to ME! You're going on about alien invasions and slashes on clothes and Catra and Adora and the whole time you're married? And what am I? All alone?"
"W-What? Glimmer, I don't—"
But she had worked herself into a full on frenzy now, her vision blurring from the tears flowing freely down her face. "You're supposed to be my best friend, Bow! Forever! You're not supposed to fall in love with someone else and get married and leave me behind! What kind of fucking fantasy is this where you get to be King of the planet and I'm nowhere?"
"What are you talking about? I'm—" He gasped. "You don't know?" He blinked at her. "Are we not… Shoot, then can I even tell you? Will it cause a rift in the fabric of reality or—"
In half a second, she'd pushed her way through the door and was tearing down the hallway. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to get out of here. Fuck it. She'd find that damn room with the runes herself, find a way back home somehow. All she knew is she absolutely could not stand being in this nightmare world where everything looked so beautiful but was even worse than home for another second. It was her own damn fault, getting sucked in by the delusion, letting herself believe some of this could be for her when obviously it was never, ever going to be—
"Glimmer!"
She ignored him, rounding a corner and colliding with some kind of lizard maid carrying a handful of linens. The linens nearly went flying everywhere, but, fortunately, the maid had two extra sets of hands and caught them neatly.
"Shit, I am SO sorry!" Glimmer apologized, trying to straighten the piles of towels.
"No, excuse me, your majesty!" The startled maid gave her a small bob. They repeated the gesture to Bow when he caught up. "Oh, and a good morning to you as well, your majesty!"
"You too. Have a nice day." He gave the maid a tight small and a nod and the lizard person continued down the corridor. Bow turned to Glimmer, looking frustrated and irritated in equal measure, and released her arm. When he spoke, it was in a sharp hiss. "Can we please go back to the room and talk about this?"
But she was still staring in the direction the maid had just walked, her legs as wobbly as they'd been after her brush with death earlier. "Why did that person just bow to me?"
"Because…" Bow rubbed his face and then stared at her as if wrestling with something. She sniffed, wiping her eyes, and he exhaled and grabbed her hands. "Because you're the queen, Glimmer. I'm married to YOU."