Chapter Two: The Hidden City

"I could have just transported us close by, you know."

It was mid-June afternoon, and the gang all sat on large Skiff that Catra had taken from what was formerly known as the Fright Zone. Scorpia had recently been in the process of returning her kingdom to its former glory, so Catra had snagged it before it could be trashed. Glimmer didn't think it was the greatest piece of equipment in the world, but it did the job.

"And miss out on the adventure of flying?" Catra asked as she controlled the machine. "I don't think so, princess. I need some fly time. Come to think of it, I need some fight time, too. I hope I can blow something up."

"We're not here to blow anything up," Adora told her. She ruffled her girlfriend's hair playfully, prompting Catra to scowl and swipe in return.

"Don't do that!" She shouted, a small blush on her cheeks. "Ugh, and whatever. I'm still wishing for some action. I haven't been able to fight anyone in a long while. Anyways, what's the name of this kid again?"

"Rose."

Glimmer squeezed her staff tightly when she spoke the name, a jolt of pain shooting through her heart. It was Bow's comforting shoulder squeeze that helped her relax.

"It's Rose," she said again. "She'd be eleven now."

"What does she look like?" Adora asked.

"Well, like my mom really." Glimmer smiled lightly as she remembered. "Same hair color, same eye color, and similar facial features, too. Even their skin color was the same. She looked even more like mom when I saw her in that reality. She has powers, too. While I can move my body through teleportation, she can move objects with her mind."

"That's pretty cool," Adora replied.

"So basically look for a mini Queen Angella who can move things," Catra said. "Got it. You think we'll actually find her in that forest?"

"We probably won't," Bow answered. "We might find clues though. Maybe the guards overlooked something when they searched years ago. Look! We're almost there!"

The group gazed over at the vast jungle like area ahead. It looked menacing and ominous from the outside, as if it weren't welcoming their presence.

"Wow. Yeah, that's a lot bigger than I thought." Catra picked up speed, her eyes glaring skeptically. "Are you sure we're going to be able to find anything in there?"

No one could answer.

As they got closer, Glimmer gulped. She had heard this place was huge, but she didn't realize just how big it was. There was so much ground to cover, and only four of them. Would they be able to find anything in that mess? What if their search produced nothing at all?

"Glimmer?"

She turned to see Bow beside her as the ship came to a slow stop at the forests edge.

"Are you all right?"

Glimmer looked down and wrapped her hand around a small pendant hung on her neck. It was one of three pieces. She held one, her mother held one, and so did her little sister. When joined together, it made a star.

"I was just thinking," she finally said. "I told mom that she's out there somewhere, but what if we don't end up finding her after all? What if there aren't any clues here and we have to go back to square one? What if something has happened to her already? Not even the guards could find her back then."

"Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay." Bow wrapped his girlfriend up in a hug.

"I was so confident when I told mom of the plan, and now I'm not so sure. My mind was so set on tearing out into the world to bring her back that I didn't actually stop to think how long that might take. What if I fail?"

"You aren't gonna fail," Bow rubbed her back lovingly. "Not even a little."

"You got that right," Adora added. She reached out and squeezed Glimmer's shoulder. "We won't fail because we won't give up until we bring her home."

"I mean, if she's anything like you, she'll probably stick out like a sore thumb."

This came from Catra, and Glimmer couldn't help but smile at those words.

"Well, you're not wrong there. I admit I was a little more excitable about things that she was, but she knew how to have fun, and we always had the best adventures together."

"Yeah you did," Bow said. "I remember the fun you guys used to have, and all of the trouble you used cause, too. You two were so close, and you cared about each other a lot. She has the best big sister in the world out looking for her, and you've got your squad right behind you the whole way. So no matter what happens, we'll find her for sure."

Glimmer looked up at her friends with teary eyes, each of them smiling in turn.

"Thanks guys. I'm glad you came along."

"Like we'd stay behind," Catra said as she jumped off the ship. "I told you, I want to blow something up."

Adora jumped down and tackle hugged her girl from behind.

"I told you we're not here to blow anything up!"

"G-gah! Adora!"

Both Bow and Glimmer giggled at their friends, Bow jumping down next before holding out his hand.

"We'll do this. Together. You ready?"

With renewed confidence, Glimmer took his hand.

"Let's do this."

"I've never seen trees this tall."

Glimmer and her friends had been walking and looking around for a little over an hour. Bow was leading the way, using his trackpad to keep them from getting lost. It was a good thing, too because the forest felt like a maze.

"Me either," she replied to Adora, her eyes scanning the green canopy. She could see the sky from below, but just barely. "We don't have trees this tall at home, not even in the Whispering Woods. Some of these plants are new to me, too. Like that one there."

She pointed to a nearby bush that was decorated in orange and purple flowers. Each flower only had three petals, and the center of it looked like a cotton ball.

"Same with the creatures," Adora added as she mindlessly swung her staff around. "Like that weird looking mouse like thing we saw when we first entered. Catra was all over that."

"I was not!"

"Your eyes got real big," Adora teased. "You even started following it."

"It looked at me funny!" Catra was all sorts of red in the cheeks. "I was just going to teach it a lesson!"

"Sure, whatever you say, darling."

"It is whatever I say! And don't call me darling!"

Glimmer could only shake her head at the conversation. Even though the two had been a couple for quite some time now, Catra still got all worked up from any teases and affection Adora threw her way.

"Anyways," Catra continued. "I don't get why they call this place the Frightening Wilds. There's nothing frightening about anything here."

"Well, you're right about that," Glimmer agreed. "I have to admit, when my mom told me this place was dangerous, I was expecting to be constantly attacked by creatures. I have yet to see anything scary. In fact, this place is pretty beautiful. Hey Bow, how far along do you think we are?"

"We're almost to the center of the forest," he replied while tapping his pad. "We're not too far from it."

"What are we going to do when we get there?" Catra asked. "Look around some more like we have been?"

"That's all we can do," Adora answered.

"Okay, that's great and all, but what exactly are we looking for?"

"Clues that might help us find out about my sister," Glimmer replied.

"Yeah, I got that memo, but what kinds of clues are we looking for?"

"W-well I don't know!" She herself didn't quite know what to keep watch for. She was just going to scan around and hopefully find something out of place. "Maybe something from the Horde ship she was trapped on, or maybe an item that belonged to her. We need anything that proves she might have been here. If we can locate some kind of proof, then maybe we can start tracing the events that happened after she was kidnapped."

"I'm sure we'll find something," Bow told them. "Or maybe…"

His voice got ridiculously ominous.

"Maybe we'll find the hidden city."

"Wait, hidden city?" Adora asked with a cocked brow.

"Oh don't start," Glimmer groaned.

"Hidden city," Bow said again. "They say that the forest is home to a place full of ancient powerful beings."

"It's just a myth." Glimmer rubbed her temple out of annoyance. "There's never been any proof that it exists."

"That's because it can only be seen by those who have been there," Bow continued. "My dads say that you can only get in if a resident of the city brings you."

"That's actually kind of cool," Adora said. "I want to see a hidden city."

"Well you won't," Glimmer said again. "It doesn't exist."

"It could though!" Bow replied brightly, his eyes widening with excitement. "And if it did, then maybe we could find a way to get in and speak to those ancient beings. They might know something about Rose! Oh a hidden city, what a joy it would be to- "

"If you say hidden city one more time I'm gonna scream!"

"Well jeeze."

Catra took a red berry she had found on the ground and shot it towards Glimmer, hitting her right in the forehead.

"Someone's grumpy."

"Ugh!"

Glimmer angrily wiped the berry from her head. She then took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

"Look. We're not here to look for some fake city. We're here to- "

Crack.

The group stopped in their tracks, Catra's ears twitching from the sound.

"Did you guys hear that?"

They all stood silently for a few moments, but the sound never came back.

"Eh, probably some animal," Adora shrugged. "Let's keep going."

The four proceeded to walk forward once more, but not even a few minutes had passed before the sound came again.

Crack.

Glimmer whipped around to look behind them. Were they being followed?

"Guys, maybe we should look into that. It sounded like someone walking."

"Nah, it's like I said before," Adora told her. "Probably just an animal."

"Paranoid much, Sparkles?" Catra asked. "Come on, let's move again already."

They took off once again. Glimmer wanted to check it out, but her friends were probably right. There was no need to be paranoid.

"Don't worry about it, Glimmer," Bow reassured. "I'd be able to tell if something was around. I can sense danger a mile awa-aaahhhh!"

Before he could finish his sentence, all four of them were scooped up into the air, a net now cradling them.

"A trap?" Adora asked. "Why is there a trap here?"

"So much for sensing danger," Glimmer muttered to Bow.

"Ugh, this is irritating. We don't have time for this." Catra adjusted herself, accidentally kicking Bow in the head, and then readied her claws. With two strikes, she slashed the net and sent them all tumbling to the ground.

"Oomph!" Glimmer rubbed her head. "Again, I could have just teleported."

The four of them stood up and looked at the torn-up net.

"How did this get out here?" Adora kicked at the fabric.

"Maybe there are people out here we don't know about," Catra suggested.

"Hiiiidennn ciiityyy!" Bow squealed with huge watery eyes.

"Bow!" Glimmer shouted. "There's no hidden- "

"What have you done!"

The group turned to find a stranger standing a few feet from them.

"You broke it!"

The angered being took a few steps forward, and out of habit, the squad readied to fight.

"Stay back!" Glimmer shouted, her staff at the ready. "Who are you?"

"I can't believe this. Do you guys have any regard for other people's property?"

The voice was female, that much was for sure, and both the pitch of the voice and the figures height indicated that she was most likely a kid. Glimmer tried to get a better look, but the girl was well hidden. She sported long black pants, a white skintight shirt that covered the entirety of her upper body and neck, and white gloves on her hands. On her head, she wore what looked to be an old black hat, and her face was covered by a goggled metal work mask similar to what she had seen Entrapta wear when the princess was working on machinery.

"Uh, who are you?" Adora asked.

"That's not the important question here," the girl answered. "The question now is how in the world am I am I supposed to catch that damn bug."

The stranger rounded on Catra.

"Why did you have to tear this up?"

"Hey! Don't get pissed at me. It's your fault for putting it here."

"I was trying to hunt something!" She pointed up to the canopy of a tree that the five of them stood by. "There is an incredibly rare bug that lives all the way up there in a nest. It only ever comes out once every couple of months. According to my studies, it was supposed to come out today, and I was going to catch it for food! But oh no, some stupid group of people aren't even supposed to be here in the first place went and ruined the trap! Ugh, my sister is going to kill me."

"Look here you little- "

"Wait!" Bow cut Catra off. "You said your sister? Are there more people nearby."

"You're a bunch of idiots." The child fumbled with her torn net.

"Is there some kind of village in these woods?" Adora asked.

"I'm never going to hear the end of this. Why my poor net?"

"Hey!"

Glimmer stood in front of the younger female.

"We're asking you questions."

"Well duh, I'm not stupid. I can hear your big mouths loud and clear, but I'm choosing not to answer."

"Why?"

"Are you really that dense?" The girl poked Glimmer on the forehead. "You ruined a net that took me nearly to weeks to make! Gah!"

The girl kicked the trashed trap to the side and began taking off.

"We need to follow her," Bow told them. "If she lives near here, she might be able to help us."

"Wait!" Adora called, the group running to catch up. "Hold on, we really need your help."

"Don't care."

"But it's important!"

"That's a shame."

"Please!"

Glimmer teleported from her spot and landed right in front of the girl. There was a desperation in her voice as she spoke.

"Please, if you are familiar with these woods, we need help."

The child stood there quietly for a moment before groaning.

"You are so annoying. What in the world could I possibly do to help you?"

"Well, first off, could you tell me your name?"

When Glimmer first saw the girl, her heart jumped. If this little girl was in the woods, then maybe she lived there, or at least nearby, and if that was true, then maybe this stranger was her sister. It was a rash assumption to make, even for her, but the part of her that missed Rose couldn't help it.

"Ugh. It's Zip. My name is Zip. There, are you happy now?"

Her heart sunk a little, but it was too be expected. There was no way that the first person she met would be the one she was looking for. After all, if this were Rose, the girl would have recognized Glimmer from the start.

"Hello, Zip. My name's Glimmer, and these are my friends Adora, Catra, and Bow."

"Charmed."

The other three now joined her side.

"Do you live in this forest?" Adora asked.

"Yes and no."

Catra scratched her head.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what I said. Yes and no."

"Are there others?" Glimmer questioned.

"Yes."

"Can you bring us to them?"

"Nope."

"What?" Glimmer was getting a little exasperated. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to. I have no reason to. Now if you don't mind, I need to go."

"No wait! Please!"

Glimmer moved to put herself in front of Zip once more. She was just about to teleport when the girl suddenly stopped in her tracks. She then watched as Zip leaned closer to her.

"What is that weird looking thing around your neck?"

Glimmer was a tad confused.

"Wh-what?"

"That thing you're wearing. What is it?"

Glimmer looked down and realized that Zip was talking about her pendant.

"U-uh, it's part of a star. I have this one, my mom has another piece, and my younger sister has the last one." Glimmer's eyes then grew big. "Wait, do you recognize this?"

Zip was silent for a moment, but then shook her head.

"No. It's just so horrible looking that I had to point it out."

Catra let out a small snort, eliciting mildly dirty looks from the rest of her friends.

"What? That was pretty good."

When Zip finally leaned away, she irritably sighed.

"Damn it. Fine. Whatever. I've changed my mind. You want to meet the other people who live here? I'll take you to them."

"Really?" Catra's brow raised at the sudden change of heart. "Why say yes now?"

"Would you rather I change my mind?"

"No, no!" Adora cut in. "Not at all. Where do you and everyone live?"

"Right here in the forest, but since no outsider can get in the city, few people know about it. The city itself is underground."

There was a silence among them.

"Did you say underground?" Glimmer asked.

"Did I stutter?"

The tiniest of squeaks could be heard from Bow, his cheeks all red and his eyes sparkling. Adora sighed at the reaction.

"Go on. Just say it."

"Gah! Hiiiiddeeen Ciiityyyy!"

Zip shook her head and groaned.

"This is such an inconvenience. Look, if you're going to come, let's go. The entrance is in the center of the forest."

Zip then took off, leading the way as the others walked behind.

"I knew it!" Bow said excitedly. "My dads were right! There's a hidden city right here in the forest, and we get to go inside! I bet we'll learn tons of stuff from whatever ancient beings are rumored to be there."

"I don't know if we'll find any ancient beings," Adora told him. "I mean, she's a kid who lives there, right? And she has a sister. They don't seem like ancient beings."

"They don't, no, but that doesn't mean none live down there. There's got to be ancient ones."

"I wonder why she was so quick to change her mind," Catra wondered. "She was adamant about getting away, and now all of a sudden we're welcome? I smell something fishy."

"That is a little odd," Adora agreed. "You don't think this is some kind of trap do you?"

"Oi! Weirdo!" Catra called. "Seriously, why are you letting us in now? You told us no in the beginning."
"I'm letting you in because you lot are going to explain to my sister why I wasn't able to catch that rare bug. You guys are gonna tell her that you have a furball on your team who can't control herself."

"I'm not a furball you idiot!"

"Guys!"

The group had finally made their way out of the first part of the forest and into a massive clearing. In the middle of the clearing stood the largest and widest tree they had ever seen. It looked ancient, but strong, tangled blossomed vines decorating the bark.

"Wow," Glimmer breathed. "This is beautiful."

"This is also home."

Zip walked towards the tree and stood in front of an area that was completely covered in moss.

"Home is here?" Adora asked.

"Yep. We're about to go inside."

"Inside?" Bow looked around the mossy area Zip was in front of. "I don't see an entrance."

Without a word, Zip took out a small green stone that was attached to a hemp string. She then placed it on the moss. At first, nothing happened, but after a few moments, the moss faded away and an opening appeared.

"Woah!" Bow was having the time of his life. "That was awesome!"

"How did you do that?" Glimmer asked, also amazed.

"There's a special crystal below this tree that helps give it life. The people here mined some of it and we use it as keys to get in and out when needed. Well, are you coming or not?"

Zip was already making her way down a grey stoned staircase, Glimmer and the gang now following close behind. As they walked, Glimmer noticed that the cracked stone walls were decorated with both torches and vines similar to the ones outside. Looking behind, she also noticed the opening had disappeared.

"You sure we'll be able to get out?" She asked.

"Duh. Did you not see me outside? Don't ask such stupid questions."

There was another door at the bottom of the staircase, but this one was made of mahogany wood and had a picture of the very tree they had entered carved upon it.

"Whatever you do, don't look anyone, don't talk to anyone, and don't be stupid."

Zip then opened the door and stepped through onto a large metal platform. Glimmer followed right behind, and when her eyes fell onto the bustled city before her, she couldn't help but smile.

"Holy wow. Guys, do you see all this?"

As the squad looked out, Zip could only shrug.

"Welcome to Briar Glen."