Chapter 5
Etheria, the present
Tucked away in another section of Bright Moon palace, Adora sits with the seer Peekablue. The room they are in is a quiet study of sorts. There are books and other artifacts from Bright Moon strewn about. Peekablue's green hair is shiny against her fair skin. The two friends are happy to see each other. "Adora, why are we hiding in here?"
Smiling peacefully, Adora shakes her head, "No, we aren't hiding. I am in a hurry and I don't have time to see everyone." Peekablue somewhat understands, though she can't fathom Adora not wanting to see her own brother. "Adam has been getting along well here. He speaks of you often." Adora nods but grows impatient, "Peekablue, I appreciate you telling me this, but I really need your help. I don't have time for this. I can't be here much longer." Her heart hurts. The man she loves is dead and there are just too many people she is not ready to see yet.
Peekablue can only nod with a half understanding of what Adora is going through. The green haired member of the former Great Rebellion silently wishes Adora would smile again or possibly return to feeling like her older self. "Who are you looking for Adora?"
Quickly explaining the need for the Star Sister's location, Adora hopes that Peekablue can help. Nodding in agreement, Peekablue sits in a chair and focuses her powers on the three sisters from the stars. With eyes closed, her magical feathers fan behind her. Each eye on the feather tips light up individually until they begin to light up quickly in a pattern of brilliance.
Once the visions are complete, Peekablue opens her eyes towards Adora, "I saw them. The Star Sisters are together. They are somewhere in the north, near the Kingdom of Snows." Adora nods as she recalls the passages in the golden book. The Kingdom of Snows holds some significance. Giving thanks to Peekablue's efforts Adora quickly leaves to begin her journey to the north.
There is guilt to be certain regarding her actions upon returning to Etheria. Adora's only hope is that her friends would hopefully understand the pain in her heart with being back. So much loss. So much pain. She can't get the memories out of her mind. A quick flash of her entanglement with the pirate Sea Hawk bubbles up as well. So much time wasted on falling in love with two different men when she should have focused her heart on Bow. Time; it leaves quickly. She wants to leave quickly. "Focus Adora, you have to find them."
Instead, Adora finds her brother Prince Adam staring at her, wearing his usual outfit consisting of a vest over a long sleeve shirt and pants tucked into woven boots. Her eyes widen. She is only a few steps away from leaving Bright Moon, but her brother stands in the way. He smiles warmly, so happy to see his sister. He goes to hug her, but all she can say is, "You aren't supposed to see me. How did you know I was here?"
Adam studies her strangely, trying to understand this hint of coldness, "Glimmer found me. She said you were unlike yourself. I thought you'd be happy to see your brother?" Adora shakes her head, "Please. I have to go. I can't be here." Adam offers his assistance, trying his best to be of help. Adora insists that there is nothing he can do. "Leave me be my brother. I'm so sorry, but I can't deal with these things right now. I must go."
Her body is shaking. Adam nods quietly while stepping out of her way. Problems are clear, or at least some of them are. A fleet of Horde troopers crash into your home, and the answer is clear. A battle must go on, yet when the problem is internal, what course of action should one take? Adam ponders the nature of his sister's concerns. He is not sure what he can do, so he simply let's her go, the mere act breaking his heart.
As Adora begins her journey to the north to find the Star Sisters, another journey unfolds that is set in a dimension far away. Despondos is very much alive with energy as a group of warriors travel to a shrine in search of answers. Catra and Bow follow Spira and Minwu with the aid of a friend in the dreary dimension named Moss Man. "Are you sure we can trust this overgrown piece of grass?" Catra purrs as they race through the lairs of Despondos. Spira looks back with her long ponytail on her head flowing in the air, "I told you we had someone you could trust. He helped me when I died. Moss Man knows this area really well. If you believe there is a way to redeem yourself Catra, Moss Man will be the one to answer that." Spira firmly believes that Catra is delusional. How any of them could ever leave this place and return to their lives is utter nonsense. Still, there is a sliver of curiosity that keeps Spira running along with them.
Moss Man opens a path from nothing but rocks for the group to run through and in a gruff voice mutters, "I will lead you to a special place, but it will not be up to me on how your fate unfolds." No one understands what that could possibly mean. Catra is still rattled by the help she is receiving from everyone. After the mini reunion with Spira and Minwu, Catra and Bow were soon taken to a village of the lost.
There they met Moss Man who knew of similar stories that were connected Catra's protestation regarding a way out of Despondos. Now in a race against time, the mix of Etherians and one mossy Eternian are heading towards their destination. Catra can feel the thoughts of a few evil foes searching for them in Despondos. Time is simply running faster than them.
Racing around a bend, Moss Man leads the group through another opening of rocks into an open space surrounded by pillars. In the center is a tall being, part human and part dragon. Standing tall with giant wings that flare out, the being speaks, "Who dares to disrupt my inner confines of Despondos? Who dares to face me: Draego-Man?"
Stepping to the side, Spira exposes Catra to Draego-Man and says, "Look at none other than her." No one will stand near the jealous beauty. Her green eyes flash with rage, "Thanks Double Trouble." Spira smiles, "You are so welcome." Heading closer to Bow and Minwu, Spira looks on at the fearsome Draego-Man.
The creature stands tall as he flexes out his wings. In a matter of seconds he seemingly just floats towards Catra, trying to peer into her eyes. "You seek to leave this place." He growls in the most innocent of ways. Catra stands tall refusing to flinch as the dragon man laughs. "In order to seek what you want most, you will have to leave this place. It's a test for a soul. Do you want that test? Are you even ready my dear?" Catra can only nod in agreement. She can taste it; a chance at a new life. This is what she wants more than anything, a chance to make things right. She purrs, "What do I do?"
Draego-Man's yellow eyes flare with a mixture of anger and glee. He is planning on playing the ultimate game, one that has not been done for millennia. Draego-Man knows that the raven haired woman searching for a soul will fail and once she has failed, he will enlist her to be his personal slave for eternity.
The plan is simple and detailed to the deceased travelers. Only four can leave Despondos and the group must aid in Catra finding her soul. Draego-Man gives no hint or clue about what that search will entail. Catra snaps, "Then what am I supposed to do?" Draego-Man can only grin, "You should start by picking the three travelers to accompany you."
Spira and Bow both stare at each other in shock, neither can believe this event is about to happen. Catra looks at the people in front of her. Choices must be made and after everyone does the math, one traveler is going to be left out. Acting quickly, Catra makes her choices known. Bow and Spira are called upon to help her. The archer and glamorous spy both head to glowing circles near special pillars. Draego-Man watches on, curious about the final choice.
Minwu and Moss Man both stand still, each one desiring the seal of approval from Catra. Even though the journey is not laid out ahead of them, the taste of being able to return to the living is just too great. Minwu fantasizes about seeing Perfuma again, taking in her sweet smells and hearing her laugh, while Moss Man dreams of being able to see real soil and the environment again; to breathe fresh air. Catra isn't exactly sure what her choice should be, but it is soon that someone is going to make that choice for her.
"CATRA!" A voice screams from in the distance. The group turns to see a flash of gold rushing towards the group. Catra's heart sinks as she realizes that she is staring at her friend Entrapta; the friend that Catra killed in a fit of rage. With her life-like braids moving frantically about, Entrapta holds on to the rocky walls around her. Using the rough walls as a spring board, Entrapta uses her hair to launch herself into the air landing a few steps in front of Catra.
The bruises around the tricky golden beauty's neck look fresh as the day she was killed. Her golden boots and chest plate shine leaving no room for dullness. Her hair continues to move frantically, "Well, well, well. Look at this. My dear friend: the murderer." Entrapta screams as she whips her hair around snapping a braid like a whip across Catra's face.
Draego-Man stands watch as the chaos unwinds into frenzy. Bow and Spira look on in concern but are immobile. Their feet are stuck in place on the glowing discs beneath them. Entrapta pummels Catra, demanding the ultimate payback. Minwu and Moss Man struggle to tear the women apart from each other. Spira can only scream, "Catra! Hurry! Pick someone and get over here now!"
Entrapta flings Catra across the room and strides towards her, "I can hear your thoughts Catra. I know what you are doing and I'm going with you. Come on Catra, let's be friends." Entrapta continues to lash out at the jealous beauty, doing her best to disrupt the overall plan.
Begging Draego-Man to do something, Bow struggles to help Catra unsure why any of this is happening. Catra tries reasoning with Entrapta, "Nothing you do to me is hurting. It's useless!" Catra's goal is to simply get away. Scrambling up from the ground Catra quickly sweeps Entrapta. With her goal set, Catra races to one of the two remaining glowing discs near a pillar and motions for Minwu to join her.
The healer nods in agreement while racing to the last remaining spot. Catra breathes a sigh of relief as her feet land on a special disc. She can feel a strange energy taking hold of her, as if she is bonding with something. Minwu is near his destination, but is quickly taken down by Entrapta, "Don't mess with my destiny!" She shouts and prepares to join the three travelers.
Giving a knowing look to Moss Man, Minwu curses his actions and grabs hold of Entrapta, preventing her from moving forward. He unleashes a burst of magical light that blindingly reflects off her golden armor. Cursing out in horror, Entrapta struggles to manage her vision. This gives Moss Man just the right amount of time to take Minwu's place on Catra's journey for a soul.
Minwu looks on in sadness as his chances of returning to the living fade away once the four travelers slide away into the ground and in a moment are gone. His heart breaks with the realization that he is stuck in Despondos. Entrapta screams in fury now that Catra is gone. Draego-Man stands tall looking at the two people before him. He can only laugh as he dismisses them both. With Entrapta and Minwu gone, Draego-Man simply stands and waits for Catra and her team to return. This is fine for him, he has forever.
Meanwhile, the four travelers find themselves back among the living, their bodies coming up from the ground via the glowing discs. Bow stumbles to his knees in shock. He feels differently. Spira trembles slightly, "We've returned." She can't stop shaking. How is any of this possible? Catra looks around the environment, the air tastes different. Moss Man looks at his companions, "Where are we?" Bow can only smile, "We're home. We made it back to Etheria."
With the events in Despondos done with for now, a whole other event continues with Adora trekking across Etheria for the Star Sisters. Walking slowly across a grassy area of Etheria, Adora makes her way to the village of Devlan for some respite. "I should have brought Spirit with me." She says aloud realizing that this journey has not been thought out in the best way.
In a few moments Adora makes her way into the peaceful village thrilled to see that the Devlan people are going about their lives peacefully. She forgets that the Horde no longer occupies Etheria. People can leave their homes and go about their lives. Adora spies some kids running around playing in the fresh air.
Getting lost in the moment, Adora comes back to reality. She needs some nourishment and someone that can help her find a faster way to reach the Kingdom of Snows. Eyeing a small bar, Adora slowly walks in weary from her travels. She knows she could transform into She-Ra and call it a day making this whole experience much easier, however she wants to do this on her own, without the aid of being the most powerful woman in the universe.
The bar is simple looking on the inside. A few patrons sit around tables and the bar top, some with drinks, while a few have plates of food. No one really seems to pay any attention to her, which is nice. She only wants to stay for a little while. Sticking to her goals, Adora orders some food while also inquiring about a quick way to travel up north.
That is when it happens. A voice she has not heard in a long time calls out behind her, "Hey princess." Adora slowly turns as heart begins to race. Questioning why her body is feeling so strange, Adora finds herself in front of Sea Hawk, the pirate who tried to steal her heart. "Sea Hawk." She says his name quietly, trying to understand why he is there.
Reuniting awkwardly, Adora finds herself perplexed on how she should act around him. He hurt them all; his betrayal was truly one of the hardest things to deal with. Times are different though. "I can't explain it all right now Hawk, but I need help. I've got to get to the Kingdom of Snows." Luckily he does not ask why, he simply smiles and says, "Well come on princess. I can get you there in no time." Just like that, Adora and Sea Hawk leave embarking on a quest to find the Star Sisters and the secrets of a whole new story.