2
Royalty and the gentry composed most of the crowd - assembled on various circular tables around the huge, gleaming hall as well as mingling in the central standing room – as Adora had grown to expect from such an occasion. The Princess entered the room - awash with colour and the sounds of bristling conversation – and immediately began turning heads with her bewitching appearance.
Across at the stage-like top table was Queen Angella herself – resplendent in an ivory gown that complemented her striking, feathered wings - and deep in conversation with Frosta, the slinky, vixen-esque ruler of the Kingdom of Chill.
As she walked, Adora saw Glimmer there now - amongst the throng of the Hall floor - her unmistakable and voluminous pink hair and purple tiara adorning her head. She looked stunning – Adora rarely saw her out of her Rebellion fatigues – alluringly clad in a diamond-clad gown of gleaming silver and matching elbow length gloves, with a sparkling jewel-encrusted choker at her neck. Adora stifled a gasp at her vision: she looked truly like the Queen's daughter: the Princess she was, and not just a warrior of the rebellion. Glimmer turned, mid-conversation, and caught Adora's gaze, her scarlet lips breaking into a lovely smile.
Smiling herself -and greeting various Lords and Ladies with waves and kisses - Adora made her way through the crowd to convene with her fellow Princess.
"You look beautiful, Adora." Glimmer excused herself from her conversation and leant in to kiss her scarlet-clad friend on the cheek.
"Look who's talking." Adora smiled as she gladly returned the gesture. "That dress is amazing. I don't see you in pretty clothes enough for my liking." Adora gripped Glimmer's gloved hand in her own and gave her a wink.
"Not usually my style." Glimmer blushed slightly.
Across at the top table, Queen Angella threw her head back violently – as if struck – and pressed her hand to her forehead.
"Too much wine already, my Queen?" Frosta chuckled.
"There is a great danger afoot." Angella said softly, putting Frosta suddenly on guard.
As the Queen foresaw, and in a speedy instant: the party was interrupted. An explosion from the east wall cut through the atmosphere and startled every last guest – silencing the conversation. A light smoke poured from the wall, guests immediately scattering.
"What's going on?" Adora chirped, her eyebrows arching fearfully. Glimmer stepped protectively in front of her friend and looked across at the blast in the wall. Her pretty face tightened in a look of severe determination.
"Horde Troops." Glimmer said, quietly. True enough; a mass of grey automatons was beginning to form through the smoking, gaping hole.
"Everybody out, quickly!" Queen Angella stood up at her throne and commanded; calmly but firmly. She dropped her hand to hit the emergency alarm button hidden in the throne arm. Her mighty feathered wings rose above her as she raised a fist and hurled a magical bolt of shimmering light towards the incoming troops, creating a smokescreen to cover her subjects' escape.
As the mist settled and the alarm sounded, the crowd of partygoers began to filter out the south exit of the hall. Some of the guests – the young, the rebels – stood their ground, determined to stay and fight with whatever weapons or magic they could muster.
"I'm going for help." Adora stammered, tottering on her heels as she made her way to the West Wing corridor as the laser beams began flashing around – randomly, inaccurately - lighting up the Hall.
"Adora, be careful!" Glimmer ducked a ricochet as one of the bay windows was systematically smashed open, more Hordesmen piling through it. Kicking off her heels, the leader of the rebellion stooped low and ran back through the Hall – making for the Palace's armoury.
The guards of Castle Bright Moon began to assemble in the wings, gathering in a defence formation.
"My Queen, you must retreat!" Frosta barked, garnering a nod from Angella.
"I will summon a force-field. Leave the Horde to the guards, Frosta!"
"No chance, your highness. With all due respect." The Ice-Queen curtsied and smiled at Angella as the buzz of the incoming Horde and the flashes of their lasers became louder.
As Queen Angella stepped back and down from the stage-bound top table – escorted by two of her bodyguards – Frosta flipped one of the tables over in front of her for cover and looked upon the horde of infiltrators with a snarling grin. She adjusted her tight blue dress so as to avoid a wardrobe malfunction and began to summon the powers of ice and snow to her fingertips.
Looking over the Hall as the final guests were dispersing, Frosta caught sight of Vivian Redretta – better known to the rebels as Netossa – kicking off her encumbering high heels and diving into a position of cover behind one of the room's monolithic marble pillars. As Netossa ripped part of her long black dress off and looked upwards at the stage, her fellow blue-haired warrior woman gave her a brisk salute. With the vehement nod she received in return, Frosta knew at least one heroine had her back.
"Boy, have they picked the wrong day for this." Frosta cackled to herself before stepping aside from her cover and unleashing a dual ice-blast with the palms of both hands: the effects of which sent the Horde Troops at the window flailing hopelessly back outside in the barrage.
Liberated in her barefoot state, the stunningly attired figure of Princess Glimmer made her way past two rows of the palace's elite guards– armed to the teeth – and down a flight of steps to Bright Moon Castle's basement armoury.
Glimmer lifted the sparkling silver skirts of her gown as she rushed. The weapons were laid out before her in long rows in the large, blue-hued chamber. Amongst the rifles, pistols, swords and spears, the guards had already selected their share, but there was plenty left for the regal leader of the Rebellion.
As she burst across the cold stone floor to arm herself, she was interrupted by pounding footsteps from the alternative entrance to the antechamber. Expecting allies, Glimmer gasped as she saw two humanoid figures – helmeted and clad in unfamiliar jet black snake-style armour bearing the red bat-like Horde crest – descend the stairs and train their laser rifles at her.
Glimmer's body froze, but her mind was racing.
"Surrender." The first aimed his weapon at the Princess and stated calmly.
Hesitating and looking at the gun in front of her, Glimmer pulled back from the weapon rack and stood very still. Swiftly utilizing the strong psionic skills garnered from her mother, she forced her influence into the soldier's mind. Mind-controlled for a moment, the Hordesman turned and blasted his partner dead. As he did so, Glimmer grabbed the nearest laser rifle and fired: hitting the other soldier in the back and sending him to the same fate.
As she tucked a secondary pistol into the bodice of her dress and gave a rueful sigh at taking the lives of her enemies - Glimmer made her way carefully back up the stairs, and to the awaiting skirmish.
Adora snuck out, relatively un-noticed, of a side exit of the hall, to the blue marbled corridors leading to the West Wing. Her sharp heels clicked loudly against the polished floor, much to her discomfort. She had to get to her chambers, and more importantly, her sword.
Adora flicked her long cape back as she rushed as quickly as her heels would allow. The Princess skidded to a halt as two malevolent, inhuman figures appeared from a doorway to block her path.
"Uhh, hi?" Adora paused, running her gloved hand up through her hair. The two standardized, grey Troops of the Horde hovered ahead of her, spindly arms outstretched from its sturdy armoured body.
"Take her." The closest Horde troop ordered to its identikit ally in a computerized drawl. As it made its move, so did Adora. Hiking up the cape and the train of her dress, she arched a hard kick that knocked the first android against the wall. Grabbing the thin arm of the following 'droid, she spun it round hard, crashing into the other and sending sparks flying from the collision. Causing enough of a gap for her escape, Adora held up her skirts higher and broke into a run down the shimmering corridor. Within moments, she'd reached her destination, with seemingly no robotic repercussions behind her.
The Princess swung open the door and burst into the darkened room, shutting the door behind her.
Adora sighed in relief and smiled as she opened the glass case and fitted her grasp snugly around the hilt of the beautiful sword. Her fear and anxiety seemed to disappear into the ether as she pulled down the mighty blade and held it by her side for a moment, letting its magic sink into her. With a deep breath, she turned and held the sword skywards, high above her head.
"By the honour of Greyskull!" Adora cried aloud, sending brilliant light from the blade and initiating her magical transformation into the heroine She-Ra: Princess of Power.
In the Hall melee, the Horde troops - barely breaking into the depths of the room -were already up against it.
The ballgown-clad Glimmer – now toting an oversized laser rifle - had blasted her way through the dwindling crowd of Horde Troops and had teamed up with Frosta – who had left an endearing series of Horde ice sculptures in her wake – and Netossa, who had left her assailants hanging helplessly from the ceiling, bound up in nets.
Beside them to the left – alongside the main, damaged wall leading to the gardens – the Palace Guards had effectively rounded up the remaining would-be infiltrators. The battle, as it was, looked to be already won.
With a crash from the West Wing, the formidable form of the Princess of Power burst into the hall, sending a pair of golden energy blasts from the crystal of her sword; and destroying some scattering Horde Troops in her wake.
"She-Ra!" Glimmer turned, gun still in hand, and burst into a wide smile.
"About time." Frosta grumbled, smoothing down the contours of her icy blue cocktail dress.
"Is Adora all right?" Glimmer shouted across the hall, concerned.
"Safe, Glimmer - as is your mother. I see you're doing pretty well in thwarting this siege." She Ra bounded over an upturned table to bring herself face to face with her pretty ally. Glimmer nodded but gave a look that defied complacency; one of the things that made her a strong leader.
"For now, maybe. But Catra is behind this, I saw her outside – just for a moment -retreating with some of her troops."
"Agreed, she's heading for the mountains." Frosta offered, stepping down from the stage.
"Then that's where I'm going." She-Ra countered.
"She-Ra, no!" Glimmer's voice gave way to an embarrassing squeak against her intentions. "Let them go, it's too dangerous…"
"Nonsense, Glimmer. I have to find the ringleaders and bring them in, and find out the meaning of this attack. Besides, no job is too dangerous for a Princess of Power." The heroine gave a smile and a knowing wink to her ally - setting her mind at ease – as she turned and rushed from the main hall.
Glimmer sorted out her gown and gave a quizzical look to first Frosta, then Netossa standing back in her ripped dress.
"There's no arguing with her." Frosta shrugged.
