A beating heart in the night
"What if I wore a dress?" Bow asked to his two best friends who were rushing around Glimmers bedroom. Adora and the Princess of Brightmoon rushed around him packing bags and studying maps to strategize for their next adventure.
Without him.
Glimmer released a tired puff of air between her lips and looked at him with one hand on her hip "Bow, you're not coming with us to the Princess spa retreat." She said to him for what must've been the hundredth time "After what happened at the prom the plus one rule has been revoked, and we need to obey the rules if we to attend these types of events."
"In order to make a next move against the Horde we need support from every kingdom on Etheria, I don't think we have to tell you of all people how important the Princess alliance is." The Adora studied the map of the Crystal Falls where Mermista would be hosting the event to help ease the tension that the prom had created.
"I know but what am I supposed to do for three whole days?" Bow looked to the girl's with big puppy dog eyes, he so desperately wanted to go with them to the Crystal Falls.
"I'm taking Swift Wind with me, so once the day's events are over, we can come visit you at nighttime." Adora offered still figuring out the best way for Peekablue , Sweet Bee and, the Star Sisters to get along.
"Yeah! I'll leave my window open and he can just hang out in my room, I'm sure my mom won't mind." Glimmer added hoping it would he ease his mind.
"I'm sure that would be fine." Bow said distraught, seeing that he could not win.
"Great! Now get out me and Adora need to finish packing." Glimmer said cheerfully, pushing him out of her room and closing the door behind him.
"Bye." Both spoke to the door, and then let out a sad sigh. He felt somewhat lost on what to do without his two best friends and started to leave the palace. Perhaps there is a village nearby that needed him?
Meanwhile Zed was as anxious, his brief travels with the artist caravan had taxed him mentally and physically. Physically for the simple but tedious labor the members putting through, the caravan's residents giving him every possible menial task that they didn't want to take responsibility for in that moment. Mentally for the damage he had witnessed the horde cause under his uncle's command, seeing the ruins of villages and scorched husks of farmland made him slowly realize that the acquisition of this planet was a hostile takeover.
From all the studies of his father's and uncle's previous conquests there'd always been mentions of rules and engagements and armies fighting on battlefields. The destruction he had witnessed of his own eyes was meant only for castles and strongholds that refused to surrender our wouldn't agree to live by the Horde's standards.
This obliteration city by city of that he was seeing on Etheria was wasteful and unnecessarily cruel. He would have to reflect deeply on his uncle's reasoning for such a strategy before confronting his father on it.
Now, he had been performing in The Laughing Swan in for approximately an hour straight. He felt like if he stopped, he would be pacing around and asking everyone so many questions that he would draw a great deal of suspicion towards himself. Which was something he couldn't allow himself to do. He was certainly so deep within enemy territory that if anyone figured out that he might be a part of the Horde, he would be captured and put to death. While Zed had been trained to survive such a scenario, he was unwilling to put his skills to the test unless it is absolutely necessary.
He finished up a song that he had originally heard as a call to arms among his people, which he had to change details of on the spot in order to not give himself away. He looked out at the tavern and bar filled with patrons more consumed with drowning their sorrows in food and drink than anything else.
"Good show, now take a rest of you might not be able to speak in the morning." One of the musicians clapped him on the back.
Zed nodded his throat already feeling kind of sore, began to walk away from the other performers. He had sung much in his younger years on the Velvet Glove, before his father had picked his tutors it had been a joint effort from the inspectors and the propaganda makers to educate him. He learned songs and read fables from lands that they had been conquered or on the course to being conquered. Sadly, they must've not been doing a good job and his tutors are brought in to teach them things about torture and spy craft, cultural etiquette, and most importantly combat in strategy.
He began to some water that the barkeep had generously provided to the caravan as a man walked up to him. "Sing a song about She-Ra!" He said loudly enough to get the attention of everyone else in the tavern.
"What?" Zed to try to refrain from tilting his head, he had no clue what was a She-Ra or its significance.
"Yeah! Sing us one about She-Ra the Rebellion!" Another voice echoed the man's request.
"I don't believe I know one about that…" Zed said trailed off before nervously taking a gulp of water.
There was an uncomfortable shift in the mood of the bar and Zed thought he heard somebody whisper "What type of scholar doesn't know about She-Ra?"
He felt his heart rate rise as he fumbled the for an acceptable excuse "I'm kind of tired perhaps somebody else can…"
"Oh, I think you owe these people a song about She-Ra." The elder who had been so gracious and forgiving of his faults now looked to him with great suspicion "You're from Mystacor right? At least tell them about when she saved Castaspella from the Horde."
"Listen I really don't know any-"
Zed second attempt for an excuse was cut off by a booming cheerful voice "Of course, you do!" Standing in the entrance of the end was Bow. He gave everyone in the tavern a wide smile his chest plate seeming to glitter as he entered the room. "Here let help to start! Here play this!" He handed the startled Zed a wooden flute "We will alternate the verses." He smiled to the gray I did teen like they had been friends all their lives.
Taking the opportunity that was given to him and Zed began to play a few notes on the wind instrument. He was terrible at it, only managing to get out a few basic repetitive notes that give away that he was incompetent at playing.
Bow was quick to his aid will once again and borrowed a lute from one of the performers. He began to play loud and well drowning out Zed's utter lack of skill. He started off the song about She-Ra with such clarity and gusto it caught Zed by surprise when he stopped and signaled for him to pick up the song.
With absolutely no clue who or what the song was supposed to be about the disguised Prince continued on with claims and trials typical of ancient heroes. He assumed that he was doing something correct sense the audience's expression didn't seem to change.
The back and forth between the two young men continued until Bow ended off the song with a loud belting of the chorus. The tavern clapped and cheered, but I smiling and waving back at them taking in the attention. Meanwhile Zed was nervously trying to make himself scarce in order to not be asked to put on another performance.
The doors exploded open at that moment people screaming as armed Hordesman barged through "On the ground!" They pointed their blasters anyone who took longer than a second to comply.
Bow quickly darted behind a table, it was terrifying to see the Horde this close to Brightmoon. There was a strong chance that Adora and Glimmer had already gone off to the spa retreat and there was no way for him to contact Queen Angella from within the inn.
"We are coming around with restraints, if you resist you will be punished." A Horde Cadet called out to the terrified patrons.
Were they going to take the inn hostage, perhaps they were going to try to take the village over as a base? Or take them all the way back to the Fright Zone? Bow shook violently at the thought of being held captive in that place again. He reached for his bow and an arrow readying to defend himself and all of the innocent people around him. Before he could notch an arrow and take aim at one of the cadets Zed had already shot up to his feet.
"Get down!"
Zed did not respond to the cadet instead he stood between him and the civilians. He did not desire to hurt one of his own people, yet if he came forward and instead who he was the situation may become uglier than it stood now.
"We are not afraid to shoot you! On your hands and knees!" The Hordesmen talked down to him like a child not recognizing him or to blinded by their mission to take note of who they were shouting at.
"Leave." Zed replied to the threat calmly brandishing his multi tool.
"He's armed!" The cadet signaled to their fellow troopers "Taken him down!"
Zed was then promptly punched in the gut by one of the troopers forcing him hunched over and fall to his knees.
"We'll have to make an example out of this one!" The troopers voice sounded muffled as they pulled out their blaster and pointed it at Zed "You should've listened to us child!"
A perfectly aimed arrow knocked the blaster out of the trooper's hand before they could fire. Bow using a turnover table as cover he peered out and sent out to other shots before moving to cover.
With the hordes of men caught off guard Zed lunged to his feet once again, shouldering the trooper to ground. He then switched his multi tool to its shock baton extension and used it to swipe at the nearby cadet's leg.
Two arrows merely graze Zed's head, before making contact with the other Hordesmen behind him." I got your back!" Bow called from across the room.
Zed nodded to him before noticing that the troopers and cadets were making an escape. With a quick check of his head he signaled to Bow that he was going to follow them and ran out of the Inn. The Horde attack was fairly small only the group of men that attacked the inn and a small tank and a barely roadworthy transport making up the forces.
Zed was set on edge by the poor excuse for a raid that he saw by his own people disgusted him. Surely, he tried to justify to himself that this was organized by some unqualified captain in not by his own family. Out the corner of his eyes the horde Prince noticed that Bow had followed him, in arrow notched and ready.
"See that pipe hanging up the back of that vehicle?" Zed gestured to the transport vehicle's exhaust pipe with the multi tool.
"Yeah, what about it!" Bow asked readying himself.
"Aim for it!" Zed listen for the sound of the engine readying himself to sprint after the fleeing troops. "Fire!"
Bow let loose the projectile and it flew straight into the exhaust pipe right to the lower part of the engine of the transport vehicle and smoke, its driver crawling out of it in terror.
In the cover of panic and smoke that had managed to climb up onto the tank and upon its barrel. He stopped in his attack his hands shaking, his heart nothing more than a feral creature in his chest. Zed cannot fathom what he was doing it was treasonous, yet he felt the urge to punish these Hordesmen for their insolence and sloppiness. When they returned to the Fright Zone, he knew their captain would have a much more severe punishment for being bested by two teenagers.
He took his multi tool and raise the voltage on it slightly and rammed the baton and into the fine seam where the barrel and the rest of the tank connected. The baton lodged itself in the barrel sending sparks with little effort, it was a design defect that was common in tanks of that model but so small that it was unnecessary, to recall the model entirely. He lost his footing as the barrel snapped sending him to the ground the treads of the tank nearly crushing him flat if somebody hadn't pulled him away.
"We did it! Dude you were great we, saved the village!" Bow shouted with glee watching the damage tank disappear between a line of trees before continuing to speak once more "Look what you did to that tank! how did you know to do that?"
Zed didn't move from his spot on the ground he didn't have the will to speak. His body had felt like he was under the effects of than a paralytic and his mind wouldn't do any more then regulate his breathing.
Concerned by Zed silence he kneeled down beside him shaking him gently "Hey are you okay? Are you crying?"
Zed touched his cheek and looked at his hand the tips of his fingers reflected with a glittering wetness, the side of it made his body shake even more. As his world seem to tilt from disorientation, the Horde Prince had thought he had lost the ability to shed tears long ago.
Seeing how Zed must have been experiencing shock from the fight, Bow grabbed his shaking hand and said to him gently "It's okay let's get you back inside." He waited for the red-haired teen to look him in the eyes before trying to lift him "Here you wouldn't want to forget your thingamajig." He picked up Zed's multitool and put it in his hand.
The inside of the Laughing Swan and was filled with cheers and grateful voices, but it was all a wash of sound and colors to Zed as he was set down and something warm was put into his hand. He looked down at the cup filled of a dark reflective liquid, it took him a few seconds to orient himself and realize the shadow that was looking up at him from the liquid was just his own reflection. Instinctively he took a drink from the cup and a warning signal danced crossed his mind at the sweet taste, but the sensation of warmth going down his throat and calming his nerves out weighted his conscience. Upon finishing the glass, he silently retched, guilt turning the substance into a cold rock in the stomach.
What had he done? Attacking his own people like that, the people he would have to trust in order to help maintain order across dimensions. He couldn't have been that desperate to keep his identity hidden just for the sake of finding the Crown of Jared. Could he? He was no technician or spymaster and his reasons for obtaining the artifact were selfish beyond his own comprehension. He could only imagine the shame his father would experience if he saw him in his current state. Zed's eyes looked at the door of the Inn, if he left now, he would be able to follow the tanks treads back to the Horde base it came from by sundown. He was sure of it.
"Welcome back to reality?"
Zed looked up to see Bow's smiling face haloed by one of the Inn's hanging lights. The empty glass he was holding was exchanged out for a full one as Bow sat beside him.
"I'm Bow what's your name?"
The Horde Prince gray eyes widened and examined Bow as if seeing him for the first time "Zed."
"You're very aggressive for a traveling performer." Bow and black like he told a joke "Walking up to those troopers with your thingamajig and be in like 'leave rawr'."
"I'm not a performer by profession." He looked around to trying to find a more proper answer "I'm just used to being the center of attention." He then pulled out his multitool and carefully showed it to him "This 'thingamajig' is a multi-tool and I made it."
"I understand, I'm an only child to." Then eagerly pulled out his bow and expanded and collapsed it a few times "I made my bow to see!"
Zed relaxed but unsure how we should breach the topic of wisdom's light to bow. He didn't want to seem forward but, he knew he didn't have much time till his actions outside of the Fright Zone would catch up with him and when it did, he needed something to show for it.
"So, what do you do for a living then?" Bow asked trying to break the silence between them.
"I'm a traveler of sorts."
Bow's eyes glittered at Zed's answer "An adventure? You would and perhaps beyond the quest right now, would you?"
"Yes." Zed smiled thankful to finally have an in to continue his self-imposed mission "Actually, in order for me to continue it I need help from somebody important."
"Who? I'll help you hope you find them! I pretty much know everybody in the villages around Brightmoon." Bow probably offered his assistance
"Well, Bow the person I'm looking for is you."
"Really!" He practically squealed like a little girl "Now you're not just saying that because I saved your life."
"No, you see. I'm searching for Wisdom Light's, apparently your family has been looking for it also?"
Bow excitement died "Oh."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's just been a long-time sense I've heard anybody mention the crown of Jared. Especially around my family."
"You seem hesitant, I take that as a no then…"
"It's not in no. It's just…" Bow was in shock move then hesitant, the Crown of Jared had been such an important point in his family's life. The search for it allowed his dads to meet each other, and gave him the interest in Frist One's tech to develop the tools that allowed Glimmer and him to meet Adora. Now is Zed, who he had only known for about a couple hours but had done so much with was offering him the chance of a life time. Yet, there was one detail that was holding him back.
"What?" Zed was becoming impatient by Bow's wishy-washy behavior.
"In order to get to the crown, we have to go to Darkedge." Bow answered sounding like he had already failed. While the Whispering Woods was always brimming with signals that First One's tech was there. There were other signals in places like the Valley of The Lost and Darkedge that also had strong unmistakable signals. The reason neither the Horde or the rebellion had ever tried to investigate those signals was most likely because they were the deadliest parts of Etheria.
"So?" Zed asked ignorant to the knowledge that Bow had.
"It's a dangerous place, mountainous and sometimes the storms there don't stop for weeks." Bow inwardly shuttered remembering the storm that was caused which allowed the Horde to try to invade bright moon. "I don't think you realize it but the forest that separates Darkedge from Brightmoon is filled with Dread Harpies, who have a nasty habit of killing and eating anything that walks into their territory!"
Zed listened to those worries intensely before smiling and extending a hand to him "Sounds like an adventure!"
Bow stared at Zed dumbfounded, either the redhead was so truly ignoran,t he didn't understand the danger or he had a death wish. "It sure does!" He smiled and shook Zed's hand, excited to take the risk.
"So, is it true then Bow?" The barkeep called to them seeming to of overheard the whole conversation "You and this young man are going to finish the legend your father started?"
"That's right!" Bow stood up gripping Zed's hand tighter holding it up in the air "Spread the word everyone that Zed and I are going to find Jared's Crown! With its power of with the help from She-Ra we will free Etheria from the Horde forever!"
If it weren't for both strangling his hand Zed was sure that all the blood in his body was rushing to his face. He had no clue where Bow had gotten the idea that the artifact would in any capacity have the ability to vanquish the Horde. Truth be told he didn't know once he had the crown if he was going to give it to his people, he knew that he wanted to show it off to prove that he could traverse the planet he had never been on before and retrieve such an item. To use it against his father however? The thought was almost impossible to process.
There was some cheering and the staffers at the end talk to bow and gave him a bag. Meanwhile the elder from the artist caravan gave Zed a handshake and a solemn goodbye. It seemed the artist caravan hadn't really expected him to continue his journey how they all seemed to want him to rethink his decision.
Once the duo had finally exited the laughing Swan is Zed turn to Bow. "What's the plan? This is your territory?" In order to make any further progress the Horde Prince would have to put his trust in the enemy, he would have ready to abandon bow at the slightest sign that he might know who he really was. Zed would also have to be willing to abandon him if he thought he was getting too attached to the other boy, the Horde must always come first.
"Well, at the Inn was nice enough to give us food so we don't have to worry about that." Bow scratched his head trying to think through the next steps of his adventure, he hadn't really had to think of a plan by himself without somebody else to okay and correct, outside of big emergencies. "But I need to run home and get more arrows and some equipment to help us find the crown once we are Darkedge" They wouldn't have a chance of finding a First One's artifact without some type of gadget that could detect it "Since will be walking that will take about three hours? Then the forest that borders dark ages about a five-day walk."
The Zed part is hand on his forehead the timeline bow proposing almost giving him a headache "You're kidding?" In the Horde if you weren't directly connected to the elite, or joining active combat to get things done was a bureaucratic mess. Even so the longest wait time for anything to get done was a maximum of 18 hours not entire week.
"Hey walking is good for you!" Bow tried to encourage said but only ended up laughing at his expression.
Zed crossed his arms and gave a half at the other boy before looking over at the damaged Horde transport, strands of smoke lingering around the unusable vehicle. Perhaps he thought it wasn't totally unusable. He walked around the transport and stopped around the large cargo area where he could hear the sound of something's scraping and snuffling to get out.
In a rush he flung the cargo door open and smiled widely at what he saw inside. "How fast can we get there on horse?" He shouted over to Bow.
"And I'm saying the sea salt scrub looked icky." Adora said wind whipping through her bright blonde hair. The sun was setting through the sky and the ground below is a tapestry of forests and flowers.
"I'm just saying if you weren't a big enough for wuss, it would've done some real good to your pores, it's clear that the air in the Fright Zone doesn't do your skin any favors." Glimmer retorted behind her skin and hair seeming to shimmer brightly after a single day at the falls.
"Girls!" Swift when snorted "If two don't stop bickering, I will turn myself around and drop you in the Crystal Falls and never come back!"
"Sorry Swifty." Adora patted her steeds neck affectionately "Look there's Brightmoon, which is coming to check up on Bow and then we'll head back to the Crystal Falls. Maybe when we get back, we can ask about getting you that hove polish that you've been ogling all day."
"Ask? You mean get, that and a daily shampooing of my main is payment for playing rickshaw for three days." The rainbow-colored horse whipped his mean at her.
Adora giggled "We love you too Swift Wind."
The moment they landed upon the roof of Castle Brightmoon Glimmer teleported herself in Adora into her bedroom. "Bow were back! We also brought you a little care package, it's got potions and soaps made out of fruit peels!" She said cheerfully before realizing her bedroom was empty.
She looked around her room and saw in one of the targets that she had hung around for Bow there was an arrow in one. It was one of those specialty arrows that he used descendent notes to her when he wasn't supposed to be in her room.
Curious she opened the compartment on the arrow and read the note he had left for her. Each second she stared at the paper the more her features were painted before a.
"What's wrong?" Adora said after her own search of the room "It doesn't look like he's here."
Glimmer with tears in her eyes handed the note to Adora.
Dear Glimmer/ Adora
No need to visit me while you're on your spa retreat. I made a new friend you today his name is Zed, he's got freaky colored hair but not as freaky as Entrapa's as was. He helped me save the village and now were gonna go on a grand adventure together to find Wisdom's Light, that's Jared's crown. I wish that Seahawk didn't live all the way in Seaworthy, then we could have all gone on a boy's road trip. Brotrip? Now Zed is kind of bit of a grump, but I feel like he'll soften up throughout our journey that he'll agree to let us use the crown to fight the Horde. Any who, you two have fun on your little vacation and I'll talk to you soon.
Your BFF for life Bow.
PS: You guys really need to meet Zed he makes the cutest face when he's grumpy.
The blonde-haired girl shrugged and looked at her friend not understanding why she was upset. "Okay he made a new friend so what? Another member of the rebellion."
"You don't know what Wisdom's Light is do you." Glimmer still looked distraught.
"No."
Adora's answer mad Glimmer sigh "The before Etheria was separated off into different kingdoms it was ruled by a one man called Jared." The Princess of Brightmoon explained the legend to her "He was extremely smart and extremely powerful and he could never be defeated in battle."
The blonde-haired warrior listened, not understanding why the story was making glimmer so upset. To Adora it just seemed like a myth that would be told the little boys.
"They say that he left behind a crown that the First One's gave him that was the source of all his power."
With that simple sentence and Adora's opinion about the legend changed. Questions banged against the inside of her skull. Was the crown really a piece of First Ones technology just like her sword? If so then it would be a great boon against fighting the Evil Horde, yet she could tell that the idea of its existence to make her friend happy.
"There was a great war on who would inherit the crown, and eventually She-Ra. A different She-Ra stole the crown from Jared's family and hid it away."
The Sword of Protection felt hard against the you Adora back, such a war would have disrupted the balance of Runestones. Perhaps She-Ra had to get involved because the First Ones must of thought no one was worthy of having the crown, or anyone besides Jared having the crown wasn't really in their grand plans.
"A lot of people throughout history have tried to find the crown." Glimmer continued despite the other girl still reeling "They say the one who finds the crown and can wield its power will be the sole ruler of all Etheria." Glimmer looked to the taller blonde girl tears welling at the corner of her eyes "There is enough people who believe that-that it might as well be true."
"So, if Bow succeeds there might be political turmoil." Adora stated absentmindedly as she worried the pros and cons of the crown's existence.
"In might as will be the end of the world!" Glimmer his chest heaved in great distress "It's not just that Adora, I'm worried about Bow! anyone who has looked for the crown in seriousness has never been found again."
That con was enough to win Adora over, even if the crown was real it wasn't worth Bow risking his life to find. She had only found the sword by fate after all and Bow was so naïve and gullible sometimes who know what is 'Zed' person would get him into. "Hey now I'm sure he couldn't have gone far, will find him and talk them out of it." Even if he was traveling by horse, with Swift Wind they'll find him in no time.
Bow had never moved so fast in his life, sure flying on the back of Swift Wind was fast, but that was flying. When Zed asked about how fast they could travel by horse he assumed perhaps 2 to 3 days if weather fared and it was a healthy stallion. Though this was no stallion, the equine that was in the Horde to transport was a beautiful mare coat tinted a light blue with distinct dark marks on her forehead and sides. The mare's mane and tail were a sparkling white those almost translucent. She was a gentle and compliant steed and responded to them as if she understood every word. Bow absolutely loved her, he even spent extra money to get her a saddle and bridle that would complement her strange colors.
Each time he blinked he could see the forest that bordered Brightmoon coming closer and closer it almost felt like teleporting, when he was trotting around the town, he would've never imagined how fast the blue horse would go. It was frightening as it was exhilarating and it made bow laugh, he wished the Adora was here so race against Swift Wind. They covering days of ground in a matter of minutes and the mare had no sign of getting tired or slowing down.
"So, what are you get a name her?" Zed's voice was muffled behind him his face buried in Bow's back, arms wrapped around the other teens midsection as he held on for dear life.
"Oh I'm…I thought you could name her." Too embarrassed to give anything a name after Swift Wind had shown open disdain for being called Horsey.
"No mo ghile mear , you are the one that saved her you name!" Zed commanded violently squeezing Bow's bare stomach.
Bow gasped and then coughed "Okay, how about True Blue."
With an indignant snort the horse stopped in her tracks turning slightly to look at both a narrow eye.
The two boys laughed at the horses seemingly sassy reaction allowing bow to catch his breath.
"Well then." Bow sighed "How about Arrow."
The mare blinked her dark eye and then moved her head forward continuing on their path at a steady trot.
Several silent moments passed as, they entered into the thick forest that made up the border to Darkedge. Arrow speed greatly diminished by the dense thicket, as they journeyed deeper the sunlight coming down to the trees greatly diminished.
Eventually the quiet became too much for Bow and he asked "Zed did you give me a nickname?"
"What?" Zed's voice seemed all too loud in the dead quiet of the forest.
"When you told me to give Arrow her name you called me something." Bow shifted awkwardly "Moo gill mirro?"
Bow made a coughing sound "Must've been a slip of my tongue, or the wind because I have no clue what you're talking about." Even though bow was looking straight ahead Zed turned his face away.
"Pretty boys" a shrill voice was punctured a high whistle made the to jump "Pretty boys" the voice repeated as leaves from the trees above the two teens fell down.
Cautiously Zed grabbed his multi tool and use it to shine a light above them. As he did the sky then became filled with rust brown feathers and the sound of shrill screams a haggard claw hand ripping his tool from him.
"Let go us!" Zed commanded to the harpies as he and his companion were ripped off the mare's back and pulled up through the trees.
Bow screamed and thrashed in in the feathered woman's grip as the green trees below them disappeared out of sight, arrow becoming a smaller and smaller blue spec as the mayor tried to chase after them. "I can't reach my bow!" He cried to Zed but the wind whipping around them made it impossible for the redhead to hear them.
The harpies dragged them through the sky, across a dust and shrub filled the field. To a messing jetting structure that stood like a petrified tree among its more natural mountain neighbors.
They were dropped in a large chamber covered in the pelts of various creatures, scraps of close and armor strung about in messy corners. The sound of their arrival made in many other harpies appear from hollow dips in the walls and higher purchase. Not giving the two young men a second recover the entire flock of feathered woman's distended upon them.
" Hunga, Hunga , Hunga!" They screamed gripping and grabbing at Bow and Zed. Searching for anything that they could get their talented hands-on tossing aside things aside like Bows bag food and arrows and quiver. That's close was being ripped up and out of fury of having little to offer to the harpies a few snapped out cutting parts of his hair.
A shrill voice rang out above the choir screeching the dread harpies "Enough, sisters, enough!" A massive form lumbered out of the shadows standing three feet higher than any of the harpies around the two teens. The towering harpy was mange and covered with angry pink scars, one of her large black eyes was nothing more than a burnt pucker. A ghastly crown of teeth and bones adorned her head, each looking yellowed and stained against the rest colored feathers of her head. The smaller harpies fled back to their purchase watching intently as their leader decided the fate of the two boys.
Zed stared down at the contraption the harpy was using as a crutch, he recognized it immediately. It was a Hord sonic cannon commonly used for crowd control on highly urbanized planets, the canon was designed to accumulate noise vibrations in an area and send it back in a high concentration to its intended target. The model the harpy had was much older and lacked a self-sound inhibitor, but you made it highly dangerous for once it was set off there was a chance that it would not stop.
The leader of the Dread Harpies kneeled down to the sack of food and began to rummage through it. A few brazen harpies came down beside her picking up scraps of bread and fruit that escaped her fingers.
"Hey that's our food!" Bow stood up only to be stopped by Zed.
"Better the food then us!" The Horde Prince whispered. the present danger to great to let his only guide die for something as petty as food.
The massive harpy then turned to one of those scattered arrows taking it between two fingers, sniffing it intensely "Brightmoon?" The harpy crowed "You come to hurt Hunga!" The harpy queen accused bearing rows of jagged teeth
"No!" Bow shouted, he could have his way he would've avoided the situation at all cost.
The harpy who called herself Hunga rushed to bow picking him up by his armor "You smell of Queen Angella!" She screamed as if his denial stabbed her, several of the other feathered woman echoing the shrill sound.
"Where only acquaintances! She has no clue that I'm here, I'm not one of her servants." Bow stammered out as Hunga stared him down with her one eye.
"He speaks the truth let him go!" Zed did not care if he was telling the truth in that moment, he so desperately did not want the massive creature to not harm Bow.
Hunga lowered bow but did not let go with him, she sniffed the redhead "I do not know you're scent?" She examined Zed "Why are you here with the Brightmoon boy?"
Bow let out a strangled cough as the giant harpy squeezed him.
"We are on a quest to find the crown of Jared." Zed didn't know what to say, would not kneel for the harpy or beg for the other boy's safety. His pride would not allow it from all his time in the Horde he knew that speaking the truth was the only weapon against those who behaved irrationally.
There was a rustling of feathers from the flock above and Hunga dropped Bow "Crown? Crown, yes." She cooed her gaze distant "Hunga, helped. Hunga helped, sisters helped, all the pretty men who come to Darkedge. Pretty men promised to come back to show Hunga the crown but never come back."
Zed rushed over to the side of his companion, his heart felt like it was going to stop beating, he did not enjoy this feeling because it stirred some unwanted memories from the back of his mind. Zed had no skill in medicine but he tried to examine him the best he could, besides being short of breath and the hollow indents of talons Bow did not seem severely damaged. The horde Prince side a wave of relief washing over him, and the only thing he could do was chuckle to himself at his reaction.
The Prince froze as though touched his cheek and watched a tear rollover the other boy's hand. He didn't understand why he was crying?
"Angella then took my Bolbery, and no one came." The words of Hunga brought the two boys back to the present moment.
"Bolbery?" Bow wheezed out a question.
"Bolbery!" Hunga screamed out in pain, a course of other names screamed out by other harpies filled the chamber.
"No more Bolbery, no childern for Hunga." The gigantic harpy let out a whimper curling into herself.
Ears ringing slightly Zed stood up, the pain from the harpy's voices becoming too much "it's okay." He said gently approaching the crownd harpy.
Hunga peered down at him mournful but, but was cut on edge by his approach. The violent shriek she pounced upon Zed ,sonic cannon falling to the floor with a dull thud, as she screaming at him in anger.
"I'm so sorry, you couldn't have known." Zed continued to speak calmly not moving out of her grasp, one wrong move and he knew the feathered giant would destroy him.
Frightened and disoriented Bow got up in ran for his quiver.
"it's okay, Bow." Zed's stopped him in his tracks.
Bo had his hands on an arrow, it was an explosive one. He knew of one good shot he could hit the harpy Queen's good eyes and the monster would be no more. As for the rest of the Dread Harpy flock, he was not sure.
"Come on show her it's okay." Zed continued to speak, as Hunga leered over him.
Bow began to shake, ever since he was a child, he was told stories about these harpies. It had been ingrained in him for so long about how wicked and monstrous they were, yet a traitorous part of him told him not to attack. A dumb part of him told him to try to take Zed's advice.
Letting go of the arrow Bow moved towards the harpy, as he approached, he started to reinterpret mange angry scars. For the burns contest by magic spells and the cuts left by the blades of the soldiers a Brightmoon. Extending one hand he touched the arm of the feathered giant, her pulse set rapid it on even like there was a second fluttering creature under her skin. "I promise we aren't going to hurt you." He choked out.
Hunga's breathing evened as she stared at bow with her one good eye.
Bow felt his body tremor as he fell to his knees 'it's okay.' His mind told himself as he started to feel numb. With a shutter he fell to his knees something and sigh and felt fractured.
Zed stared at his companion still trapped in the harpies hold he cannot reach out to him "It's going to be alright, mo ghile mear."
Bow could not hear him , he couldn't even hear his own thoughts. 'it's okay.' Apart of him cried out, yet he couldn't believe it. He didn't want to be on this quest more, he wanted to with Adora and Glimmer were things made sense. Deep down he could also feel another part of him. That traitorous part of him that told him not to shoot the arrow he was so very glad that his two friends were nowhere to be seen, and that part of him to continue this adventure.
(AN: Sorry for such a long chapter, but I plan each of these chapters of what content is going to be in it and not by its length. Thank you to all those who left a review on my first chapter, it's so nice to get a diverse response on this fanfiction.)