Perfuma smiled as she looked over their handywork. She, Scorpia and Entrapta were pretty damp – as were some of the pillows Scorpia laid on and the entire of the cave - and would need a change of clothes, and Frosta, Sea Hawk and Mermista didn't get out exactly dry either – but the chitin was gone. Scorpia's new exoskeleton was now free of any remnants of the old and could harden without the worry, right?
Not wanting to make assumptions, she looked to Entrapta. "What do we do, next?"
Entrapta took off her gloves and squeezed the water out of them. "Don't know, but Bow should."
With that said, Entrapta tapped on her communicator. Bow's face popped up, with Adora, Glimmer and Catra within view.
"Hey! Good timing! I was just about to call. We're almost in Etheria's atmosphere so I can only talk a moment, but as soon as we land Glimmer's going to teleport us there."
"You're almost here?" Relief flooded Perfuma's voice. So they did turn around and head back to Etheria! She trusted Bow's insight, and Glimmer could teleport her to Plumeria so she could get a change of clothes and, most importantly, medicine for Scorpia.
"Don't worry!" Adora leaned over Bow's shoulder. "If Scorpia's hurt, She-Ra can heal her when I get there!"
She hoped so, anyway. Adora had no idea what the limits of She-Ra's healing powers were but she'd at least try.
Standing by Glimmer, Catra solemnly watched Bow and Adora with the communicator in the background. Melog, however, poked his head up next to Bow and watched Entrapta intently.
"No need, yet! We got the chitin off," Entrapta said cheerily. "What's next?"
"That's great!" Bow said brightly. "Hordak and I have been researching and we've come up with a set of steps to take once the old exoskeleton's gone."
Bow and Hordak working together? Perfuma's gaze softened. She could imagine the awkward energy that the two of them together would create. That they both would try and work together for Scorpia's sake meant a lot to her. She looked to her friend, collapsed on her stomach across the pillows Frosta had placed. It would mean a lot to Scorpia, too. Perfuma knew it would.
"So first thing you want to do is get her somewhere warm and dry, as dry as you can make it. If her new exoskeleton stays wet too long, It'll get mold and that's really bad news," Bow said as he read from his notes.
"Ugh," Mermista pressed a palm to her forehead. If there was so much to their molting how did Scorpia's people ever survive? She kept the question to herself, however, well aware by the fact that she was surrounded only by portraits of Scorpia's lost relatives that it would have been in bad taste to say those words aloud.
For all she knew, maybe they weren't here because the Horde took them out during a molt. Did scorpions tend to molt at the same time? There wasn't a pattern to find with just one scorpion.
"We're about to hit the atmosphere. I've got to go," Bow said. "But Hordak's been setting up a room. He might have a place ready. See you soon!"
His communicator cut off right as he shut it.
Entrapta tapped her communicator and Hordak's face appeared, solemn as ever.
"Entrapta."
"Hordak! We got the old Exoskeleton off! We should use the old chitin for data!" This would be the first time she ever had her hands on shedded exoskeleton for study! "Oh, and Bow said you've got a dry room ready for Scorpia?"
"Just about, yes," Hordak explained. "I've modified a bed for her soft-bodied exoskeleton, it's set in the infirmary. It would be easiest to dispense medication there once we have it. All we need is to finish a dehumidifier. Driest is optimal."
Perfuma listened to the conversation, resting her hand on Scorpia's back. Listening to Entrapta and Hordak discuss setting a room to be as comfortable and optimal for her companion's recovery brought the plant princess positive vibes. She was anxious about moving Scorpia out of Horror Hall, considering how she hadn't wanted to move last time. Maybe her thoughts on the matter would change, now, and if nothing else the situation had changed.
The room was too damp for her to stay here any longer.
"I can handle the dehumidifier!" Entrapta said with an enthusiastic hop. She was all about assembling something helpful.
"W-wait-just until we can get Scorpia there," Perfuma called out before the scientist could rush out the door. Entrapta looked back at her. "We might need your help transporting her."
"Okay!" Entrapta put her gloves back on.
"She's going to need a change of clothes, too," Perfuma looked to Frosta. "Could you go to her room and grab her nightgown?"
Frosta blinked up at her. "Nightgown?"
Did she have one?
Perfuma laughed sadly. "Yes, in her drawer with the photo."
She had only just started opening the scorpion's mind to having clothes that were specifically for sleeping and relaxing in. The nightgown in question was from Plumeria, and the only one she had at the Fright Zone. Thus far.
Perfuma had hoped for it to be a first step in teaching the other woman to practice more self-kindness. Scorpia was a tactile person, who loved soft and feminine things. Having been forced into an intimidating uniform most of her life, Scorpia was hesitant to wear anything else. It had come as a sad surprise the first time Perfuma realized she even wore it to sleep. She shouldn't have found it surprising, perhaps. It had taken Adora a long time before she started dressing down or wearing night clothes to bed. Perfuma had to assume that the Horde were trained to sleep ready to spring out of bed and fight or run to their commanders' beck and call at any moment.
She could imagine those wouldn't produce the best vibes for sleeping.
The plant princess never thought she'd be using it for this, but she hoped it would help. The gown, at least, would be easier to put on over her soft-bodied exoskeleton.
Frosta nodded and handed Patchy to Mermista before rushing out.
The mermaid just stared at it, holding it at arm's length like it too could sting her. "Um, what am I supposed to do with this?"
"Okay, so how're we going to get her to the infirmary?" Perfuma asked as she turned back to Scorpia and rubbed her back. The other woman laid flat, possibly unconscious. It wasn't surprising – this whole scenario must be exhausting for her, and she was already dulled by the energy it took to produce the new exoskeleton. Scorpia typically snored and she wasn't at the moment, but Perfuma couldn't tell if that meant she was in fact awake or just wasn't happening to be snoring this time.
Did they have stretchers in the Horde? Surely, they must?
Entrapta crouched down next to her. "Emily can give her a ride."
Perfuma looked to Emily, who beeped back. Well…Scorpia had been sitting on Emily the first time they ever interacted with her as a potential member of the Rebellion, so Emily could bear her weight.
"Okay," Perfuma said with a nod. She leaned down and rubbed Scorpia's back. "Hey, we're going to head to the infirmary, okay? We're going to get you dry and comfortable, so your new exoskeleton can harden." As she said this, she trailed her hand across the other woman's back, towards her side. She then slid her fingers deftly under her arm, careful to stick to her skin and not her delicate chitin.
As Perfuma moved to get a grip on Scorpia, Sea Hawk moved to grab her from the other side and Entrapta slid her hair under and around the other woman's trunk. Together, they began to hoist her up first onto her knees, then onto her feet. She was heavy, especially as nearly dead weight. Perfuma had a feeling Entrapta was bearing the most of it, but if it was a strain she didn't show it.
Scorpia emitted a soft grunt as she was lifted, opening her eyes in a squint but otherwise limp in their grasp.
Emily crouched down just outside of the makeshift cave, drawing her legs close so they could sit the scorpion on her more easily.
As Perfuma and Sea Hawk walked Scorpia towards Emily, Entrapta followed behind them. Everything appeared to go smoothly, until suddenly Scorpia's let out a strained yelp and lurched back. Her weight pulling backwards so suddenly knocked Perfuma and Sea Hawk off balance. Scorpia released them and staggered back, almost backing into Entrapta and crashing back onto the floor. Entrapta sidestepped and used her hair to slow Scorpia's descent, careful to remain out of the way of her tail. Perfuma and Sea Hawk whirled around to see Scorpia hide her head with her towel-bandaged pincers.
"Scorpia? Hey, hey," Perfuma quickly closed the distance between them and knelt down.
Sea Hawk hesitated, watching as Scorpia's tail held erect above her, in easy stinging range.
Perfuma saw it, too, but she paid it no heed. She wasn't afraid of getting stung. The flower princess would have touched her pincer if it were any other circumstance, but instead she lowered her hand to touch the other woman's side. "Shh, it's okay," She dropped her voice to a soft tone. "What's wrong? What happened? Did we hurt you?"
Reluctantly, Scorpia parted her pincers just enough to peek blearily between them. Perfuma smiled softly, and slid her hand between her pincers to stroke her cheek. With anyone else she wouldn't be so bold, but with the tactile scorpion she was confident physical touch could communicate where words couldn't.
The larger woman leaned her face against Perfuma's palm.
"Is she alright?" Sea Hawk asked as he watched from his place next to Emily.
Perfuma furrowed her brow with concern. "I'm not sure."
Entrapta's hair still wove around the scorpion's body and Entrapta stood off to the side, watching. It wasn't her presence or contact that was the problem. Scorpia had seemed fine with them touching her all this time, and still seemed to relish contact if leaning her face affectionately against Perfuma's hand was any indication. Stroking her cheek with her thumb, the blonde surveyed the area.
Was there something about the place that made her uncomfortable with leaving? Perfuma could understand if there was something innately comforting about this building that made Scorpia apprehensive to part with, but the structure itself held sad, somber vibes. There was only so much comfort she presumed the scorpion could get from the lifeless portraits of relatives she never got to know.
The fact that this probably was the most comforting place for her despite it being a constant reminder of her solitude worried Perfuma. But she'd have to think more on that later.
"It's the cover," Mermista suddenly stated, drawing Perfuma's attention. She looked back to see the mermaid pointing Patchy towards the cave. "She panicked when you stepped out of it."
Perfuma looked up at the makeshift cave she had created. "Of course!"
Entrapta followed Perfuma's gaze, then took out her audio recorder. "Scorpia Molting Log, Infirmary Notes. We're going to need a…cave or other form of cover."
"I can make another once we're there," Perfuma offered. "But moving the whole cave at once for the trip will be harder."
She could bring some of the vines with her, but the whole thing? That would be hard to do without severing them, and she was hesitant to sever that many plants at once.
"I could use my hair," Entrapta offered. "Or build a temporary roof to attach to Emily."
"We need your hair for the lift… and a roof might take some time," Perfuma frowned worriedly.
"Glimmer could teleport her there," Mermista offered.
Perfuma nodded. "That could work! But…would that be safe?" She smiled nervously, coaxing Scorpia to lean into her before lifting her hands to tap her fingertips together. "I mean…Glimmer's teleported me around the world before—and before I was done with my morning meditation. If she missed and they ended up somewhere else, could she get hurt?"
Would the act of teleporting have any danger in of itself? Usually no, and especially not with Scorpia's exoskeleton when it was at its usual toughness, but seeing her like this now made the flower princess feel protective.
Sea Hawk made his way next to Perfuma and knelt, taking off his jacket. "A temporary solution, perhaps?"
He put the jacket over Scorpia's head, sliding her arm carefully around his shoulders. "Let's go for a super stealthy trip, my girl."
Scorpia blinked her eyes open and watched Sea Hawk owlishly, but didn't seem to react when he drew the jacket over her head. Perfuma glanced between them but followed Sea Hawk's lead, sliding herself underneath Scorpia's side and helping her up onto her feet.
As they walked her towards the edge of the cave, Sea Hawk used his free hand to adjust his jacket, keeping it over her head. "We're sneakin', don't make a sound. Is that how it went? Just look around!"
Perfuma smiled fondly as Sea Hawk hummed whatever he could remember of Scorpia's old jazz performance. Enticed by the music, and the fond memory of her first singing performance, Scorpia faintly hummed along with him.
The blonde's dark eyes glanced between the roof of the 'cave', Emily, and their current position. With a breath, they carefully walked her past the edge. Entrapta walked behind them, prepared to move and to catch Scorpia if she lashed out again, but she didn't. Outside of the faint humming from Scorpia and staggered singing from Sea Hawk, there was nothing.
A few steps out, Emily rolled behind them – Entrapta shifting to give her room – and pushed into the back of Scorpia's legs. The group helped her up onto it, Sea Hawk holding his jacket in place and enticing the former Force Captain to hum and keep her eyes on him and Perfuma.
Perfuma kept close to Scorpia, her hand firmly against the other woman's back and holding her heavy pincer across her shoulders. Her dress felt a chill from the dampness, but she'd tolerate it until she could change her clothes. The fabric of Scorpia's clothes were just as wet.
The group carefully made their way to the infirmary – Entrapta directing them from behind. Entrapta's hair kept wrapped around Scorpia, holding her in place on top of Emily. Sea Hawk kept the jacket in place, over her head and shoulders while he continued to sing a regurgitated version of Scorpia's jazz song with her. Perfuma and Sea Hawk remained in front, blocking most of Scorpia's view and keeping her attention on them. Mermista walked along the group, holding Patchy awkwardly.
Frosta intercepted them as they neared the infirmary, holding the folded nightgown over her head like a prize. "Found it!"
"Great!" Perfuma said cheerily. Things were looking up!
Inside of the infirmary, Perfuma urged them to sit Scorpia at the foot of the bed – at least until she could change into drier clothes. As they did so, Sea Hawk shifted in front of Scorpia entirely, singing quietly to her while Perfuma used her magic to set up a new 'plant cave' over the bed.
Once settled, Entrapta kept her propped up with her long hair, and Perfuma knelt down before her. Sea Hawk sat on the edge of the bed next to Scorpia, and slowly stopped the hum. He drew back the jacket, gauging her reaction and, when she didn't have one, he slipped the jacket back on.
Mermista watched as Perfuma slid her deft fingers under a seam just below the knees of Scorpia's uniform, sliding the lower portion of the leggings off. Ok…maybe they had consummated their relationship before. Or, at the very least, saw each other in a state of undress because Perfuma knew all too quickly how to start dismantling her uniform.
As Mermista stepped back out of the room, urging Sea Hawk to follow to give them some privacy, Perfuma set the dampened leggings aside. Frosta placed the night gown on the edge of the bed, opposite side of where Sea Hawk had sat, and also stepped out of the room. She came to a stop near Mermista and took Patchy from him, hugging him.
"I'm going to help you into your nightgown, okay?" Perfums said softly. "I might need to cut through some of your uniform." Not that Scorpia didn't have a few duplicates of her attire, but nonetheless she didn't want any of this to come as a surprise.
Entrapta raised her surgical knife. "I can do the cutting!"
She furrowed her brow with worry. It'd probably be preferred if Perfums could do this by herself, but with Scorpia nearly unconscious as it was, she'd be hard to move if she didn't move on her own.
"Scorpia?" Perfuma rested her hand tenderly on the larger woman's knee. "Is it alright if Entrapta helps?"
Watching Perfuma through squinted eyes, it took Scorpia a long moment – and repeat of the question – before it seemed to sink in. The blinked and lifted her head, looking around to see Entrapta partially behind her. Entrapta smiled brightly and brandished her surgical blade.
The flower princess inwardly winced, unsure if she would have been comforted by that pose and expression, but Scorpia looking back to Perfuma and smiling weakly eased her fears. "Y.. yeah.. okay…"
Perfuma smiled to her. "Alright."
With that said, Entrapta cautiously cut through the uniform, especially the seams which led to the shoulders and tail. It would be too dangerous, perhaps, to try and pull the arm or tail through the holes in her clothes. As she cut through her clothes, Perfuma moved the torn fabric aside and hooked the nightgown around her. Luckily, the nightgown had been designed with a scorpion in mind, kept together with magnetic strips instead of tiny buttons not meant for meaty pincers. It also started off open, like a robe, and could be closed through those magnetic strips into the shape and stability of a gown.
It was their first attempt at something comfortable, and something that wasn't embarrassingly difficult for the scorpion to try and put on, herself. Perfuma never would have guessed it would be useful for getting around sore, delicate appendages but it worked well enough.
Once they were done, Perfuma and Entrapta pulled her back – Entrapta more than Perfuma. The flower princess never ceased to be impressed with the strength of the other woman's scalp. – near the headboard and eased her onto her back. Perfuma grimaced with worry as they lowered her down – concerned for how her tail would take the pressure of her body weight – but she noticed the bed had a lot of give, and her tail sunk in easily. Perfuma pressed her hand against the mattress and pushed, then lifted to see the shape of her palm which slowly eased as the mattress retook shape. That must have been what Hordak meant when he said the bed was modified. The mattress appeared to morph to take Scorpia's body shape into account.
She checked the scorpion for any signs of discomfort, but for the moment she seemed to relax – or was too exhausted to care about anything. The plant cave cover appeared to be helping. Good.
Perfuma looked to Entrapta as the older woman unwrapped and slid her hair out from under Scorpia's body. "Thank you, Entrapta,"
The scientist looked to Perfuma, perplexed. "For what?"
Perfuma smiled. "For researching how to help her. For helping us get her pauldrons off. For helping us get her here, and helping me get her changed. For everything."
"Oh?" Entrapta blinked. "She's my friend. That's what my data says, and that's what friends do for each other, right?"
"You're right, on both accounts" Perfuma said warmly. She knew well enough how much Scorpia cared for the scientist. "But still, thank you. You're a good friend to her."
Entrapta beamed. "Okay. Well, you're welcome!"
With that said, Entrapta backed towards the door. "Now I need to go make that dehumifier! Bye!"
With a dash, she was gone.
Perfuma wrung out her dress as she stood by the bed. She too needed a change of clothes, once the opportunity arose.
Notes: Whew, this too took a dog's age to write! I had a huge presentation recently that took literally all of my time to prepare for. Afterwards, I re-read all of Shedding's chapters just to make sure I didn't accidentally retcon or break continuity anywhere while writing this one! Everyone's coming in clutch to be there for the Black Garnet's princess!
Surely once she regains her faculties this is going to mean a lot to her. At the same time, she got into this mess to start with by not being in the best mental state, so that'll be something for the group to look forward to once the lucidity comes back.
