Council

„How did they left the Alliance!" she shouted, absolutely furious.

„Well, normally... They sent declarations of abandoning the Alliance. In the document establishing the Alliance, created, I would like to remind you, by your parents, there is a provision stating that you can withdraw from the Alliance membership at any time by sending a simple declaration. The only condition was that no battle could be taking place at that moment. Your parents also defined the term Battle, but it doesn't matter because I'm pretty sure there isn't one going on right now." said High Minister Shou . She was an otter person who had held this position since her mother's time. In fact, Quen Angela was served by her mother, father and great-grandfather, and the ruler of Brightmoon must have really appreciated the services of this family. After the Galactic Horde was defeated, it was decided that the title of Prime Minister had a bad connotation, so he was renamed High Minister. She was actually quite fond of Shou, who helped raise her after she lost her father. She was her teacher and gave her all her knowledge, which was very boring she must have added. She spoke with an accent very similar to her mother's, which, combined with the judgmental look in her eyes, made her feel tempted to teleport to her room whenever she looked at her.

„What does Frosta say? Did she say anything?" She asked with a bit of hope in her voice. She liked the Ice Princess, and younger girl admired her. She certainly wouldn't agree to something like that. All they have to do is talk and everything will be clear.

Shou cleared her throat significantly and began to explain.

„They declared themselves the People's Republic of Snow. It is doubtful that Frosty's consent , or lack thereof, made any difference. Moreover, a few moments ago news reached us that Grand Marshal Catra had taken Princess Frosta aboard a vehicle belonging to Princess Netossa and was going to take her to their manor... Then they would take Princess Entrapta and Mr. Lance and Mr. George to them to their homes. But first they will bring Adora She" Ra , the princess of power, to Brightmoon, because she has very important news for the queen.

She blinked several times in surprise.

„Is Adora here? When did she come here? Are Princesses Scorpia and Perfuma here? What is this important news?" she bombarded the high minister with questions. The otter person turned up her nose in disapproval and said.

„ I don't know the answer to any of your questions, my queen. I'm just repeating to you what came to me. If you want to find out more, you will either have to ask the former chancellor in person or wait a while. If you want to do the former, I politely suggest putting on warmer clothes."

For a moment she really was going to do that. Teleport to the Chancellor and yell at him for daring to destroy the alliance they had worked so hard to build. For whom they sacrificed so much, but thanks to whom they managed to achieve victory. Just... What would she do if he didn't listen to her? She couldn't rule with threats and intimidation... She couldn't, could she? She plopped down on the chair and Bow put a hand on her shoulder. She stroked it tenderly, but then John Killthem, ambassador from Bellum, spoke up.

„If I could speak, and I can, because I am present at this meeting." His voice was muffled by the gas mask he wore, but she could still hear he radiated cheerfulness. "I could suggest mild retaliatory action using several nuclear warheads."

There was silence as everyone present stared speechlessly at the ambassador.

„We will not bomb Kingdom of Snow„ she growled menacingly, glaring at the short person in military clothing who replied undeterred.

„I'm not talking about bombing the Kingdom of Snow. Its Annihilation would be definitely overkill." he laughed merrly like Grandpa Moon from fairy tales. "We'll just bomb one small settlement and then the next, gradually escalating the conflict, unless they surrender and hand over the rebellion leaders so we can publicly execute them."

There was silence again, which was finally broken by her fiancé, speaking in a hard voice

„This is not the way we on Etheri resolve conflicts. Not doing war crimes."

„There are no war crimes if you win the war." John explained, as if he were quoting a popular proverb.

„Would you surrender if someone bombed you?" her fiancé replied. The ambassador thought for a moment and said.

„Good point."

She rubbed her temples, feeling a growing headache. She had been in pain a lot lately, and she often felt nauseous in the mornings. She should probably go to doctor...

„Tomorrow I will demand an explanation from the chancellor or whatever his name is now. I want to hear everything from Catra and Adora first. And Frosta . First of all, Frosta. Anything else."

Shou nodded and General Jocelyn and Astromaster Onyx Sky of Icarus stood up and the seccond person spoke.

„ We have other, more disturbing news." the voice of the person from Icarus was strong and resonant. The arrived here right after the end of the war and was engaged in communication with other planets. They where much more communicative than the former ruler of Dryl and didn't get distracted so easily, so she actually put them in charge of interplanetary diplomacy.

„What can be more disturbing than losing one of our Alliance members?" she shouted indignantly, getting up from the chair again

„Taurus has been conquered." Onyx Sky said and the entire Council Hall fell silent. Not as full of indignation as when Ambassador Bellum spoke, but full of fear and anxiety

„What happened... Was it Horde Ultimate? He finally decided to get off his ass and attack, or did these fucked up brothers decide to attack!?" she shouted d after a while, feeling fear turn into rage. Onyx Sky shook her head.

„None of them. It's someone from the outside. They introduce themselves as the Research and Exploration Fleet and claim to have come here from the Pact Worlds and Veskarium on a stabilization mission, whatever that may be. From what I understand , they managed to gain control of Taurus in less than a week, although I must also note that the planet was largely controlled by a local rebellion. They say they came here because they were attacked, although I don't know much more"

She looked at them feeling numb. She didn't believe there was anything beyond Prime's empire. She wanted his words to be true, that he had conquered the entire universe. Now, in an instant, it had become so much greater, immeasurable, just as Entrapta had said. Not only immeasurable, but full of powers whose true purposes they did not know. And it was she, as the queen of Etheria and the leader of the emerging Galactic Alliance, who had to face it for the good of her subjects. She sighed and narrowed her eyes. Then she felt Bow place a hand on her shoulder. She wasn't alone. She still had those she loved, her friends, with her. He'll definitely be able to handle them. She looked at the others. Jocelyn looked unfazed, as she had been throughout the war. She has always been a tough commander, having led the Brightmoon military for as long as she could remember, though Catra took over most of her responsibilities. In fact, she had been a general for as long as almost anyone could remember, because as a Saihe she was long-lived. Her mother witnessed Queen Angela taking the throne. She was mysterious and spent her last years with her daughter. She has reportedly been spending more and more time with Onyks Sky recently, but hasn't delved into the rumors. Shou looked terrified. She wasn't surprised. She spent almost her entire life on a planet at war and even helped rule it. She hoped that she would finally find peace. Now it turned out that a new, completely unknown threat had arrived. Castaspella and the other princesses were not here. These were only the ambassadors of Eridani and Aquarius. The first was a quiet and polite winged woman with beautiful golden hair who seemed to have a bit of a crush on her as well, named Tuo. She was probably the empress's sister, though out of wedlock, whatever that meant. Aquarius's ambassador was a short green-skinned woman with a bald head and big ears named Dayiuk . Despite its name, her planet was almost entirely covered in glass deserts, although it was not real glass, but rather strangely crystallized water. According to Entrapta, these were once oceans, although the inventor has never been to this planet. Of all the places in Prime's empire that they knew of, it was there that the memory of First One's culture survived the best. Only, unlike on Etheria, they were not treated as great progenitors who brought civilization with them, but as conquerors who destroyed their world. So when the Horde arrived and its ruler claimed that he had murdered this ancient race, they hailed him as a Hero, or as they claimed, a prophet... At least until he began to impose his tyrannical rule... Still, of all the planets that wanted to join planned Alliance, most of the Horde Prime supporters remained there, and sometimes very fanatical ones. Only John Killthem seemed pleased.

„So your wedding... Victory Day will be canceled?" Tuo asked in a shy voice and blushed. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Such shyness could be as charming as it was irritating

„That wouldn't be a good idea; „ Shou said in a serious tone, having regained her composure. "We have all been preparing for this event for a good six months, if not more. All inhabitants of Etheria and nearby planets will be able to celebrate not only the wedding, but also the end of the war that has cost us all so much. This would lead to a worsening of moods in all kingdoms. There is another thing. During all these terrible years of war, we never canceled festivities, parties and festivals, even when we were threatened by Horde troops. If we cancel the celebration now, we will admit that this threat is more terrible than the one they have faced for thirty years, perhaps even as terrible as the Galactic Horde. This would be contrary to everything we believe in, inconsistent with the spirit dormant in the hearts of the inhabitants of our planet!" she hit the table top with her small fist and then suddenly looked at the others with surprise, as if she was surprised by her outburst and looked down. She smiled warmly at the high minister and teleported next to her.

„These were wonderful words, High Minister. We cannot let fear rule our lives and take away the joy of celebration. Besides... We don't know if this Fleet has hostile intentions towards us. We only know that they clashed with Prime's loyalists, with whom we have fought many times over the past five years. Perhaps they are not a threat, but potential friends. Allies who will help us defend against Horde Ultimate and the Heavenly Brothers." When she said this, she teleported from one of the people present in the council room to another. Tua turned beet red as soon as she was next to her. "There is a chance for us to establish relations with the rest of the galaxy. They made friendships that... Well, which are what we value the most." when it ended, everyone present started applauding, and the ambassador from Bellum called out.

„The queen talks well! Let's form an alliance with this fleet so that we can bring the conflagration of war to the homes of our enemies!"

Again, everyone present looked at John in disbelief.

„The conflagration of war is not quite what I thought." she said carefully.

Over the next few hours, they agreed that they would not declare a state of emergency or notify the general population of the planet, but would quietly warn the space fleet and all concerned services of the potential threat. Then they moved on to some less important issues. Tuo happily informed her that Castaspella had agreed to the masquerade ball. She sighed as she heard her exclamation of delight. Catra made it very clear that she didn't want masks at her wedding, which she understood perfectly. It will be very awkward to find out that one of her few wishes for her wedding has been simply ignored, not to mention the hassle of having to make such last-minute changes. She just hoped it wasn't malice on Aunt Casta's part. After she approved the idea of serving a choux pastry cake at the wedding, Catra really liked all the creamy custards. After the entire session, she felt very tired. She teleported out the door, but still let Bow lead her away. She needed the closeness of another person now. This day didn't seem to be that difficult at morning. She got up in the morning with the belief that it would be another day of crazy wedding preparations, until suddenly she learned about the collapse of Alliances, at least partial, and then the specter of another war hung over Etheria. Was this how her mother felt, on the eve of the battle during which she lost her father... No, she knew the risk then... It was like when she found Adora, and the Sword... If she had left a few moments later, or if she had not quarreled with my mother, everything would be different. They would live in another world, or perhaps another universe.

„You know, Bow, I feel like it used to be easier. We could just fight the Horde, we didn't have to think about anything else. It was that simple. It was enough, as Frosta said, to punch the bad guys in the face."

They laughed, but then Bow turned serious and said.

„ It wasn't easier, maybe just simpler... Do you remember how many times we risked our lives by rushing into battle? How many times have we been afraid of what the next day will bring? And the next morning, everything hurt." he hugged her tightly, but she looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

„I thought you'd have better memories of all this."

He laughed warmly.

„Because I have, but I also remember that it wasn't easy. I remember how I lost you. How I was almost sure I would never see you again. It's not a good memory. Fortunately, now I always have you with me." he kissed her. For a moment she felt pure happiness spreading through her body, but then she remembered everything she had heard during the Council and felt all the joy drain from her.

„But now it may all come back. We may have to fight for freedom again.

Her almost-husband hugged her tightly.

„And just now you said that you miss the war times." he said, smiling, and when she gave him a sharp look, he added. "I'm sure everything will work out somehow. We must be vigilant, but we cannot be afraid of the shadows. Whoever these non-Imperial visitors are, they're certainly not as bad as Horde Prime or Shadow Weaver."

She frowned. Unlike Catra and Adora, no she could hate the dark sorceress so much, even after learning that she had sent her father to Beast Island. Much of what she was able to do, especially in the field of sorcery, but not only, was due to her. She was wise and had knowledge beyond anything other sorcerers of the Mystacor knew. There was a bit of goodness in her that Horde Prime was deprived of. Still, she was glad she died. She would have to be judged, and she didn't want to do that, especially since Shadow Weaver wouldn't accept the verdict with as much humility as Hordak. She sighed, there was no point in thinking about that damned woman. The dead stay dead. She wasn't sure what to make of Catra's story about the non-dead in Mystacor, but she didn't believe the dark sorceress was capable of returning… and even if she was, she wouldn't be stupid enough to return to Etheria. The only thing waiting for her here was the hatred she had earned. She sighed, she had other, much more important problems.

„I'm worried about what happened in Frosta's Kingdom. In her country she always had to be strong, she could never show weakness. We didn't remember this because most of the time we met her outside her own country, where she could be herself, cheerful and feisty Frosta. But we didn't see that when she returned home she had to deal with the same problems as everyone else, and on top of that she had to prove that even though she was so young, she was fit to be a ruler. It's kind of our fault that she lost her throne."

Bow shook his head.

„Don't blame yourself. It's all Lonnie's doing. She must have had a hand in it from the very beginning. Since the end of the war, she has wanted to deprive you and the other princesses of power." he said in a sharp tone. He hadn't liked Lonnie since Frosta's Ball. She didn't really know her herself. She only knew that she was Adora's friend, but not Catra's, when she still lived in the Horde. They met several times during the war, mostly in combat, but after she got Etheria out of Despondos, they never spoke to each other. Comrade General, as she was now called, did not respond to requests to establish diplomatic contacts. At first she believed that they would eventually come to an agreement with the People's Rebellion, but now.

„It all started much earlier. Sometimes I think Etheria doesn't need princesses anymore." she sighed, but her fiancé hugged her tightly and said.

„Do not say that! You are wonderful." he kissed her and added. "We all saved Etheria, it's true, but princesses have always ruled Etheria. Just ask my dads. By the way, I still can't believe they left the library and went on an adventure. We led them astray."

They laughed happily.

„Go to sleep, my dear, I still have to sign a few documents today and make the final corrections to the anniversary celebration." she kissed him and moved to the Fireplace Room. But the warm, fatigue, and spiced wine soon overcame her, and she didn't even notice Bow laying her down on the sofa and covering her with a blanket.