Old Tech Ruin that Welcomes She-Ra
She-Ra is walking through the woods trying her best to remember where Madam Razz took her to find that beacon where her berries are, but she is having a little trouble with finding the place as she never explores the Whispering Woods much.
"It was definitely this way. I think." She-Ra hoped she's going the right way.
She looks around some more hoping for any sign that she is getting closer to that old ruin, but then she saw something up ahead.
"Oh! That rock looks familiar." She-Ra moved forward to the rock, believing that it may lead her to that beacon. But her hope fades when she got closer and groans in frustration.
"Because I passed it an hour ago." She-Ra realized.
"Really? I thought it would be one of those talking rocks that would give you hint." Jack said, walking up to her through the bushes.
"Jack?!" She-Ra jumped in shock with her cheeks turning red.
"Wh-What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at Bright Moon to keep an eye on Glimmer and her glitching?" She-Ra asked, trying to keep up her composure.
"I'm here because you need help, because I want to for you're important to me as everybody else." Jack answered.
"Oh, that's huh… That's nice of you. You really are an awesome guy." She-Ra smiled as she twirls her foot around on the dirt.
"I was raised by great people to do great things." Jack smiled back.
"Now, let's keep looking around to see if we can find any sign of this ruin." Jack suggested with the sound of comfort from his voice.
"Sure. Oh, but first." She-Ra marked an X on the rock.
"There, to make sure we don't get totally lost here." She-Ra smirked.
"Looks helpful." Jack commented as they start walking together.
(With Glimmer)
Well, it's dinnertime with her mom as Glimmer came into the dining hall and feeling a little bit upset that Bow and Narc wouldn't let her set off a little fire just to escape dinner so that her mom wouldn't find out about her glitching. But now it's too late to turn back.
"I gave the staff the night off so it could be just us. And I made your favorite." Angella gestured to the food on the table.
"(Oh, those are my favorite foods. Mom must've really been worried about me.)" Glimmer thought smiled at her mom.
"Well, I didn't make it. But I had the kitchen make it before I gave them the night off." Angella confessed, not that Glimmer already knew that her mom can't cook.
"Thanks." Glimmer said, then turn around to look at a potted plant.
"We've hardly had a chance to talk since you returned." Angella pointed out.
"Well, you know, not much to talk about." Glimmer proclaimed, even though there is, and she should talk to her mom about it.
"Not much to talk about? You were kidnapped! Y-You were hurt! And…" Angella felt like her emotions are starting to break down a little.
"I get it, Mom! I'm a failure!" Glimmer groaned, feeling the pressure on taking over her emotions.
"That's not what I'm…" Angella tried to calm her down.
Suddenly, probably at the worse timing, Glimmer started glitching again and it looks worser than before as she screams from the pain and Angella is in deep concern as she rushes over to her daughter while being confused about this strange red aura.
"Stop! Make it stop! Glimmer, what's happening to you?! What aren't you telling me?!" Angella asked worrying with her voice being a little loud.
"Don't yell at me!" Glimmer pushed her mom away, starting to break down.
"I know I messed everything up, okay?! I know, I'm a big disappointment!" Glimmer sobbed as she sat on her chair.
"What are you talking about?" Angella asked in confusion.
"I let myself get captured by the enemies like an idiot and Shadow Weaver did something to my powers! I'm sorry I couldn't be perfect like you! You have no idea what it's like to be such a screw-up!" Glimmer expressed how she feels when it comes to her mom's approval.
"I don't know how you feel? I got your father killed!" Angella yelled with a dark frown.
Everything became silent for a moment as Glimmer is shock and Angella clinches her fist, the queen started to calm down.
"I ordered the battle that your father perished in. I've never forgiven myself." Angella revealed as she turns away from her daughter.
"I-I didn't know that." Glimmer said, surprised to hear that her mom felt like a failure to herself.
"Yes, well… you never talk to me. Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" Angella asked as she kneels down for eye level with her daughter.
"Because I was ashamed. I acted without thinking. The exact thing you're always telling me not to do. I teleported right into their trap. I feel like such a failure." Glimmer explained.
"Oh, Glimmer. I'm the one who failed. If I hadn't let the first alliance fall apart after your father's death, none of this would be happening." Angella realized that more anything, that she should've stayed strong in the war just how her late husband would've wanted her.
"You feel like a failure?" Glimmer was surprised to hear this.
"Don't make the same mistake I did. I should have kept fighting. You should, too." Angella stated.
"But will the Rebellion even listen to me? Can we even win?" Glimmer asked.
"With my daughter leading it? I believe we can." Angella believed strongly.
"Even if my powers are gone?" Glimmer asked, not even sure if her mom can help fix this glitch.
"We'll figure it out. Together." Angella pulled her daughter into an embrace.
Glimmer started to feel the warmth of a mother she had not felt in a long time, it feels really nice and welcoming as she smiles letting herself sink into the embrace for them to have this special moment together.
(With Jack and Adora)
Jack and Adora find themselves on top of a tall tree suggested by the young samurai for a higher point of view to find that ancient ruin.
"Do you see it?" Jack asked.
"Nope." Adora kept looking for a little longer until she spotted a shiny lighting for a second.
"I see something, over there!" Adora pointed the way and jumps down with Jack right behind her.
"If I'm right about this, we should be able to find the beacon and hopefully it will give us the answer on how I can do the healing and save Glimmer." Adora said.
(With Catra)
Catra is right outside of the Whispering Woods, she felt a bit nervous about doing this since most stories say that this forest can be very tricky to navigate even with a map.
"Okay, I just need to find Adora and Jack then show them the map. How hard can that be?" Catra asked herself before entering the forest.
Throughout the moments within the Whispering Woods, both sides are having a really tough time making their way through the forest, but it's like something keeps getting in their way every time Jack and Adora make a turn and Catra is having trouble with the map because it's nothing but static on the screen.
"Great, bad signal." Catra groaned.
Jack and Adora came out of some big bushes stumbling upon a rock, the rock same that has the X mark that she made before.
"Nooooo! I've been walking in a straight line! I'm trying to help! Why are you stopping me?!" She-Ra asked yelling at the forest and broke the rock.
"There must be something that is preventing us from reaching that place." Jack guessed.
Back with Catra, she tries again with the tracker only for the stupid thing to get all static on her making her growl in frustration and threw it away.
"Fucking shit! Why can't I find my way around this stupid forest!" Catra growled, but then she started to get scared getting that sudden feeling of creepy within this forest.
Jack thought of something and believes this may work; he can only hope that Adora will go along with this.
"Adora, maybe you can turn off She-Ra for a while and just let yourself go." Jack said.
"What do you mean by that?" She-Ra asked, confuse.
"I may not know much about this forest, but I do believe this forest is more alive than we know, and it wants you to feel calm and at peace with yourself." Jack stated.
"And you think that will help us find this ruin?" Adora asked.
"It's our best shot, and I also think you need to cool down." Jack answered.
Adora wasn't sure if stopping and taking the time to cool down would help them with anything in this forest, but she might as well try since she doesn't have any other options. She changes back into her normal self and sat down on the grass with Jack.
"Now close your eyes and let the Whispering Woods coming flowing into you. Let it know your heart." Jack said.
Adora closes her eyes and took in some calm breaths to calm herself down for a moment, starting to feel more clearly and then she felt something calling out her almost like the forest itself is speaking to her.
"I think the forest is ready to help me." Adora smiled as she saw a bright light coming through the woods in one direction.
"Then let's go follow it." Jack said as the two follow the light.
Catra groans some more as she may have found herself completely lost in this forest and has no idea on what to do.
"Adora, Jack, please… I need your help." Catra said as she is on the verge of crying.
But then she felt something that causes her ears to twitch twice and turns her head to see a glowing light that is coming from further in the woods, almost like it's telling her to go there.
"Okay, this just got freaky." Catra commented.
Catra climb on a tree and sat on a branch to see an unfamiliar structure that appeared to be something made out of crystals, and probably high advance tech, and she also spotted Jack and Adora down there.
"But freaky in a good way." Catra smiled, then climbs down from the tree.
Jack and Adora arrive at the big structure and from the look on her face, this is definitely the place that she came here before with that old lady.
"Wow, this looks very grand in a spooky forest." Jack commented.
"Yeah, it's just like how it was when I first came here with Madam Razz." Adora said as she looks around.
"So, did you ever go inside before?" Jack asked.
"No, I was just mostly staring at the place and then there was this light show from what appeared to be stars. Real stars that used to appear in Etheria during the night so long ago." Adora explained.
"Well, I hope that also means you two are expecting an extra company." Catra said, revealing herself to them.
"Catra!" Adora smiled with joy and ran up to Catra giving her a strong hug.
"I'm so glad you're here!" Adora said.
Catra was surprised, she was not expecting to get a hug from Adora out of the blue like that though it does give her a nice comfort feeling.
"Y-Yeah, whatever. I just came to tell you guys that Entrapta found a strong single of First Ones tech within this stupid forest and wanted to give you the map she made, but it looks like you didn't need it in the first place." Catra explained.
"Well, we are very glad you're here because Adora could use more help." Jack smiled.
"We just need to find a way to get inside." Jack looked at the First Ones tech structure.
Adora looks around and walked up to the giant center piece then a door opens up for her.
"I think I found a way in." Adora said.
"Of course, you did." Catra deadpanned.
"Maybe it's because it reacted to her as she is She-Ra, like it was meant for her." Jack guessed.
"Hey Adora, think this place will let us in if we go with you?" Catra asked.
"Why the fuck did I just ask that?" Catra asked whispering.
"I think it'll be okay if you two stay close to me. We still don't know what goes on with these ancient ruins, but we're pressing time, and we need to help Glimmer as fast as possible." Adora pointed out.
"You mean that sparkling princess? What's wrong with her?" Catra asked Jack.
"Seems the electric trap she was in did something to her magic when she kept on trying to escape, making her glitch like a digital screen being broken or something." Jack explained about Glimmer's condition.
Jack and Catra hurry to Adora as she goes in, they are now inside the ancient ruins of highly advanced technology and stumble upon a big room with floating crystals.
"If Entrapta was here, she would go shit crazy with joy to see all of this tech." Catra commented.
"No kidding." Jack nodded, and probably some other nerds and scientist would also go crazy with everything here.
Adora really hopes that this place can help her learn the healing ability and to make this trip quick, she pulls up her sword and spoke.
"Hello? I carry the sword of She-Ra, and I've come here for help. Is anyone there?" Adora called out, her voice echo in the place.
Nothing happened for the next three seconds until a hologram appeared to her which also spooks Catra and Adora a bit.
"Greetings, administrator. What is your query?" The hologram asked.
"Oh. I need your help to heal my friend. She's been cursed, and I-I don't know how to save her. The legends say that She-Ra could heal people using this sword. How do I do that?" Adora explained her reason for being here.
"What is your query?" The hologram repeated the question.
"Is that thing on a glitch or something?" Catra asked.
"Well, this place is really old. Maybe it has been well maintained since it was abandoned by the people who made all of this." Jack guessed. But Adora doesn't have time for this.
"For the Honor of Grayskull!" Adora transformed into She-Ra hoping she can get the answer she needs.
"How about now?" She-Ra asked.
"Administrator detected. Welcome, She-Ra." The hologram said.
"Looks like She-Ra may have something to do with this former advance civilization." Jack pointed out.
"No duh, but I like it when you point out the obvious." Catra chuckled as she taps her elbow on his abs.
"Subject: The Sword of Protection. Classification: portable Runestone keyed exclusively to Administrator: She-Ra, Princess of Power." The hologram said.
"(Wait, did the hologram just say that the sword is a portable runestone?)" Jack thought surprised to hear that, something that was not mentioned in the legend.
"How can I use the sword to heal my friend?" She-Ra asked.
"Query not recognized." The hologram said, this only made She-Ra upset as she runs her hands over her face.
"The legends say the sword has healing powers. Is that true?" She-Ra asked.
"One of the Sword of Protection's many intended functions is to heal and restore balance." The hologram explained again.
"But how do I do that?" She-Ra asked angrily.
"Query not recognized." The hologram repeated those words only made She-Ra angrier.
"Adora, just calm down. I'm sure we'll figure this out, now is there anything else you might know about these First Ones tech you do know like another hologram that is not like this one?" Jack asked.
She-Ra tries to calm herself down and then a vision came into her mind along with two words that describe one name.
"(Light Hope.)" She-Ra thought recognized that name somehow.
"Let me talk to Light Hope." She-Ra requested to the hologram.
"Light Hope?" The hologram questioned.
"Light Hope. That's her name, isn't it? The woman I saw when I touched the sword for the first time? Where is she?" She-Ra asked.
"Yes, Light Hope is here. She has been waiting for you." The Hologram revealed that is good news for her.
"Can I talk to her?" She-Ra asked.
"You will meet her soon enough. But first, you must let go." The hologram said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She-Ra asked.
"You are not ready yet. You must let go." The hologram said.
"Let go of what?" She-Ra was confused.
"Great, now it looks like She-Ra has to pass some kind of test that probably make no sense." Jack sighed.
"That's annoying." Catra crossed her arms.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Jack and the girls have entered the ancient tech ruin to find answers about the sword and the ability to heal, but it looks like there is something else that She-Ra has to do if she wants to meet Light Hope. Something may start to get emotional from here.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!