Authors Notes: Hi all and here we are the chapter you've all been waiting for we're entering the season 4 arc of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power! Apologies for the late updates its been pretty hectic for me lately what with my freelance work piling on and helping my sister with her Yoga Studio and a whole lot of other things going on in my personal life. I thank you all for your patience.
Now I would like to make something absolutely clear now, there are no harems or three way relationships going on in this story all relationships are canon to She-Ra Netflix series and Ben 10 Omniverse, Ben is with Kai as it is an interesting relationship to explore and I'm trying new things than what I've seen in other stories and Perfuma has a small crush on Rook but they are good friends.I respect everyones opinions and thoughts but I have a plan for my story and I intend to stick to it.
Now without further delays lets begin!
Ben 10 (c) Cartoon Network
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (c) Dreamworks Animation
:The Coronation:
The scene opens with static coming from Bows tracker pad camera set on record. The static clears to reveal Ben had set it up in his room at Bright Moon and he looked tired.
With a sigh Ben began. "Ah hey Grandpa Max Kevin, Gwen, Kai and everyone else, I…I know its been a while since I've done one of these things but." he sighed again. "A lot has happened and a whole lot of it bad and I…I really don't know where to start. Well first of all we just found out from Adora's witch of a mentor Shadow Weaver that she's not from Etheria and is actually a First One. On top of that Hordak leader of the Horde has been building a portal to bring through his armada from space. But you can guess it didn't end well we found Mara's ship and a warning from her but we got captured by Catra who in some selfish act of desperation to win opened the portal."
Ben continued as the scenes of discovering Adora's origins discovering the First Ones ship and Catra opening the portal flew by as he narrated. The scene then changes to the events of awakening in the portal reality.
"Then wouldn't you know it we wake up in the more perfect version of our lives like what happened when I got captured by the Forever Knights but a whole lot worse like reality erasing worse." The scenes show the portal reality collapsing all around Ben and Rook on Earth. "I saw..everyone I loved and cared about erased in the blink of an eye. But we got to Etheria and found Adora hoping to try and close the portal if Catra hadn't tried to stop us by going psycho! I mean she was willing to wipe out all of reality just to prove herself to someone who never cared for her at all."
Flashbacks show Ben and Rook escaping Earth and arriving on Etheria and the Fright Zone to find Adora, and of Catra attacking them in the Whispering Woods, as Rook sacrificed himself to make sure Ben and Adora would succeed. Then it showed Bens aliens full of rage attacking Catra with every intention of killing her, if not for Adora's intervention bringing him back to his senses.
"I was about to end Catra for good but if it wasn't for Adora snapping me out of it I would've… I would've done something stupid. I knew you wouldn't approve but our greatest horror was yet to come. In the final moments I decided to use Alien X to seal the portal but doing so would have me trapped in the void, but I was wiling to do it for everyone to be safe if I hadn't Adora would've and I know she thinks destiny has something in store. But really destiny is something you make for yourself, and I know for a fact Adora's destiny wasn't to sacrifice herself in a void. In the end neither of us made the grand sacrifice…."
The scene revealed Angella striking Alien X to pull him away from the Sword of Protection under the portal. He and Adora looked in horror by what she was about to do.
"We're still here because of Queen Angella, Glimmers mom and leader of the rebellion. She pulled the sword out, she saved us all but at a cost. But me and Adora restored reality and we made sure that bastard Hordak wouldn't be able to make another portal."
The scene shows Adora and Alien X using the sword to restore reality and then destroy Hordaks lab to make sure another portal could never be created. The scene ends with Catra fleeing into the shadows. Then showing Adora and Ben telling Glimmer the sad news of her moms sacrifice as they and the other princesses comforted her in her time of need.
The scene returns to present day. Ben sighed as he looked at the camera. "I know we feel like we saved reality itself but…It still feels like we lost, we lost a friend and Glimmers left without a mother, though she doesn't show it she's taking it hard. We all are." Ben then felt his face where his scar is. "Some of us still bare the scars of it all, but hey thats what happens in a disagreement with a sociopathic tabby cat." He chuckled trying to add some humour to a rather grim atmosphere.
"Its been three months since it all happened, and it just doesn't seem real, some still linger on it and some just try to forget." Ben continued. "And now we're preparing for Glimmers Coronation, to be the new Queen of Bright Moon. Seems weird we're having a coronation after what could've been the most traumatic event in this war. But I guess you can't stop time from moving on." Ben then looked at the camera with tears present in his eyes. "A part of me believes Earth is restored and your all okay and its what kept me going, and I know I would come home, but I can't until She-Ra and I free Etheria from the Hordes oppression. I just hope you understand and I hope you remember what happened so we can get some reinforcements to turn the tide."
Just then came a knock at the door, which to Ben was rather surprising considering that most times Glimmer would teleport in without knocking.
"Uh come in." Ben said, the door then opened to reveal it was Bow.
"Ben, come on we gotta get ready for the Coronation!" Bow said to him.
"Be right there." Ben said as Bow left the room he looked back to the camera. "Sorry guys duty calls, and I have a feeling today isn't gonna be easy, but we're gonna do what we can. Tennyson out." He switched off the camera and went to join Bow.
Bright Moon:
The sun was bright over the kingdom of Bright Moon, as the light of the Moonstone glistened in the sun. In the year and three months since Ben and Rooks arrival their new home Etheria had seen much change, concealed proximity sensors guarded the kingdom's now and even more of Etheria's people were rising up to fight the Horde. But Queen Angella leader of the Rebellion made the ultimate sacrifice to restore reality after it was shattered by Hordak's portal. The sun has now risen on the time of a new queen.
In her room, Glimmers old clothes lay on the side, and the soon to be queen herself was getting ready for the big day. Glimmer looked at her reflection in the mirror she had a complete new look. Her hair was shorter and waved at one side she had a white tear dropped shaped earring on her right ear, a V-neck four toned purple sleeveless body suit over violet tights, her cape was similar to her old cape but a bit darker she wore the same white fingerless glove which now had purple fingerless gloves now complete with a pair of two tone purple calf length boots with white moons blue toes and dark purple heels.
She stroked her hair to neaten it up a bit as she didn't like the way it looked. She was just contemplating her thoughts when suddenly.
"Glimmer, come at once. We need you in the War Room right away!" Castaspella burst into the room startling her. Thinking it was an emergency Glimmer hurried out of the room following her aunt. "There's no time to waste." Casta said as they entered the war room with Adora, Ben, Rook and Bow waiting for them
"You must make a decision."
"We're here for you." Adora said to her.
"We got here as fast as we could." Rook added.
"Okay so what's the emergency?" Ben asked still wondering why they were summoned here.
Glimmer looked over the war table with a steely determined look, she felt all eyes on her with great anticipation and then in one blink of an eye.
"That one!" Glimmer sighed. Bow gasped, Adora nodded in agreement Ben looked surprised while Rook looked rather unsure.
For before them lay a rather large looking cake with peach filling and peach red icing and on top were small figures of Glimmer punching Hordak and it was among a selection of cakes.
"The Future Queen has spoken." Castaspella said. "At Glimmer's coronation, we will be serving – ice cream cake!" She beamed which was met by the salute of the royal guard.
Everyone laughed with joy, but while Glimmer was trying to put on a smile she still felt saddened inside, something that Ben and Rook saw was clear but not to the others.
"This is gonna be a long day." Ben sighed knowingly.
"Indeed partner, indeed." Rook said they were greatly worried for their friend.
Outside the castle boats were gathered in the sea while people from all across the kingdoms of Etheria were arriving at Bright Moon for this occasion. A bird flew off the bow of one boat and past Glimmers room.
"People are starting to arrive. I can't believe this is really my coronation day." Glimmer said looking out of the castle window she looked so surprised. "Me. Queen Glimmer. Ugh. It sounds so weird." She sighed.
"Queen Glimmer." Bow then said Adora was sat down on a chair while Rook and Ben stood next to her. "Queen Glimmer. Queen Glimmer!" Bow then said dramatically. "Yeah, that's going to take some getting used to."
"Yeah you didn't need to say it like that?" Ben questioned.
"Oh come on Ben its an awesome title for a soon to be awesome queen!" Bow said.
"I just... never thought it would actually happen." Glimmer said as she gazed out at the Moonstones ember glimmering outside.
She then felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to Ben with a sympathetic look. "Hey it's gonna be alright, I know a lot has changed Glimmer and yeah its gonna be scary but you don't have to go through it alone." Ben told her.
"Yeah he's right." Adora then stood up from her seat. "don't worry. You've got me, Ben, Rook and Bow beside you all the way. We'll make sure this day is perfect."
Glimmer just closed her eyes and was quiet Ben just looked worried for her, and he knew why. "Yeah, you're right." Glimmer breathed before she gave a smile. "We've got this. Do I look okay?" She turned round to her friends.
"You look beautiful Glimmer." Rook smiled and Bow smiled in agreement.
"Like a queen." Adora agreed.
"Here you all are! What are you standing around for? The guests are starting to arrive!" Castaspella arrived in the room in a state of urgency and excitement.
"Uh Casta we're uh kinda having a moment here?" Ben tried to explain.
"Sorry Benjamin but there's no time for chit chat!" Casta then said before grabbing Glimmer shoulder and hurrying her out of the room. "Come on! There's so much to do!"
Glimmer peaked back through the door groaning but giving a sad wave to her friends. Ben, Adora and Rook could only wave back in sympathy before she was dragged out of the room by her over excited aunt.
Now she was gone the group looked at each other with worry. "Guys I'm worried about Glimmer." Adora said to them.
"Agreed." Rook agreed. "With all that has happened it is hard for us not to be worried for her."
"Must be hard celebrating with Angella being gone." Bow said and a solum mood fell over them.
"Well of course its hard Bow, she's barely had time to grieve and now we're having a party for her to be the new queen?" Ben questioned. "That'd be too much for anyone."
"But it's her coronation. This should be a perfect day for Glimmer." Adora said and then she looked rather determined. We'll make it perfect. All we have to do is keep her mind off…"
"Angella?" Bow questioned.
"Off everything, yes."Adora admitted.
"Adora, I understand you may have the best of intentions, but I do not believe avoiding the subject is going to make things any easier." Rook said. "She has already lost her father and now her mother too we should be there for her when she needs us."
"And we will be as we make today perfect for her." Adora said.
"Or make things worse." Ben said given his feelings on the subject.
"It won't." Adora said.
"Glimmer doesn't need a perfect coronation right now she needs her friends." Ben voiced rather annoyed. "And avoiding the subject out guilt or some kind of compassion isn't gonna help at all."
"You don't think I know that!" Adora voiced to him loudly. "But unlike you I don't know what its like to lose loved ones like that none of us do and right now making sure Glimmer has the perfect day is the only way to deal with all this."
"We know that but I think what Ben means is we need to support Glimmer right now." Bow then said to ease the tension.
"And what better way to do that then make the best coronation now come on!" Adora said happily as she yanked Ben and Bow out of the room. Rook however was concerned he knew Ben was right but at the same time Adora was as well, for dealing with grief is never an easy thing. So he went to join them.
It didn't take long for them to catch up to Casta and Glimmer while castle staff were around making sure everything was ready for today.
"Castaspella how will the proceedings take place, while we have an understanding of coronations on Earth we are unclear on how it is done on Etheria?" Rook asked just out of genuine curiosity.
"Oh I'm glad you asked Rook." Castaspella said happy to explain. "The ceremony begins with the Ritual Quest, followed by Glimmers first speech as queen and most importantly, the whole thing ends with a Grand Ball!"
"Wait there's a quest?" Ben asked picking up on things.
"Oh we're great at quests." Adora beamed excitedly and Glimmer did give a smile at that.
"I take it this is a ceremonial quest?" Rook questioned.
"Yes. the Quest of Queens, in which Glimmer will forge her connection to the Moonstone." Casta explained.
"But does Glimmer not already have a connection to the Moonstone?" Rook wondered.
"Yes but the Moonstone's power has been balanced between Glimmer and her mother since she was born." Casta explained as they stopped at a window looking at said Runestone. "but now, with her... her absent…" Casta found it hard to say it.
"The full power of the Moonstone will pass to her." Rook realised.
"Yes." Casta said which did put a saddened look on Glimmers face before Ben could say anything.
"So, about that quest! We're great at quests, right guys?" Bow immediately said changing the subject.
"*Ahem* yeah so uh how does this quest work I don't suppose it's one of those trial by fire sort of things?" Ben asked.
"Oh not to worry." Casta said making a spell mandala and a scroll appeared. "It's all in the scrolls. Secret ritual, witnesses, light, etcetera, etcetera." The scroll floated into Bows hands as he Rook and Ben looked over it rather surprised.
"That is a very long scroll." Rook voiced.
"Sheesh its like Princess Prom all over again." Ben voiced. "There aren't any pop ups in this is there?" He then asked.
"No but you will need this." Casta said as a small lantern with a glowing white flower inside shined bright landed in Bens hands leaving them confused.
At that moment one of the Plumerians named Seneschal came in carrying a whole mess of flowers. Casta gasped in delight seeing this. "Are those the flower arrangements? Glimmer, what do you think?" She then asked her niece while the Plumerian smiled nervously.
"Oh, uh, they're, uh, fine?" Glimmer said with a raised eyebrow.
"You're right, they're awful!" Casta decided. "Burn them at once. Also, you're fired."
This resulted in Seneschal weeping in despair and ran away crying leaving everyone surprised. "Ah Castaspella I do not believe that was grounds for a dismissal I thought Seneschals display was rather vibrant." Rook voiced.
"Yes too vibrant!" Castaspella said dramatically.
"Oh Aunt Casta, you don't …" Glimmer tried but Casta just popped her nose happily.
"Don't you worry about a thing." Castaspella assured. "In addition to being a powerful sorceress, I am also a legendary party-planner." She posed passionately surrounded by cakes and worshipers.
"How do you think I planned Ben's birthday party so well! This will be a coronation for the ages! Glimmer, take us to the terrace!" Casta said holding her nieces shoulders ready for her to teleport away. However instead Glimmer pushed her aunts hand away and just walked away.
"Oh, we're… We're walking, are we? Great. We can use the exercise." Casta then said surprised but walked behind her. Adora, Ben, Bow and Rook looked at each other rather worried.
"Does anyone not find it strange that Glimmer has not teleported at all over these past few months?" Rook asked.
"Yeah I've noticed that too." Bow agreed.
"Maybe she doesn't feel like teleporting could be she's saving it for the ceremony." Adora shrugged.
"I don't know." Ben wondered.
"Well come on we better catch up." Adora said and so everyone headed off down the hall. Weirdly however Rook walked in the opposite direction which Adora noticed.
"Hey Rook where are you going we gotta meet up with Glimmer?" She said.
"Ah you all go ahead there is something I must attend to." Rook said as he then walked off. Adora was more confused than before she looked to Ben who just shrugged.
Later they were outside in the courtyard and all looked dumbfounded as they gapped at something. Frosta was there showing them something.
"What do you think?" Frosta said and she was showing them an ice sculpture of her and Glimmer but looked in action poses flexing muscles. "I wanted to do something special for you."
"Ah…i… it looks cool Frosta but don't you think its a bit uh…much?" Ben asked.
"Thats exactly what I said." Perfuma whispered popping into the scene.
"Hey its an awesome gift for an awesome friend!" Frosta beamed.
"This is going to be awful." Glimmer groaned.
"Awful inspiring, right? I can make more!" Frosta beamed with puppy dog eyes.
"Ah I appreciate the idea." Glimmer said trying to be understanding to her friend. "But I need someone for a very important job to, uh, greet the guests."
"Oh, you need a bouncer!" Frosta beamed as she formed ice fists on her hands and banged them together. "I'm on it! Bouncer!" She rushed away leaving the group with a grimaced look on their faces.
"Wait, I didn't say bouncer." Glimmer tried but it was too late she was gone. "Okay." She breathed.
"Oh boy she's gonna freeze'em alive." Ben groaned.
"Yep." Bow groaned in agreement.
"Glimmer!" Casta popped up surprising Glimmer and the group. She had two cloths on her arms one in blue the other in purple. "I need your opinion on color schemes."
"Uh…blue?" Glimmer said but Casta just looked at her unsure showing she wasn't so keen on the idea. "What about purple?" Glimmer then said.
After a minute of silence. "Excellent choice." Casta beamed happily. "Isn't this fun? Soon you will have to make many decisions, just like your mother…" She saw Bow and Adora waving their hands saying no while Ben looked with a raised eyebrow. "That is, uh... Chop, chop, everyone! Adora, Ben move the ice sculpture to the side!" Casta said so Adora and Ben went to move the ice sculpture while Bow went elsewhere.
"We still need flower arrangements! Where is that florist?" Casta demanded.
"You fired him." Glimmer said.
Casta realised her mistake. "Oh, right. Perhaps you'd like to do the flowers, Glimmer?" She suggested.
Glimmer wasn't so sure. "Uhh?" She then noticed a bright green light and looked to see Adora and seven Dittos trying to move the ice sculpture groaning as they moved it.
"Maybe you should've used Humungosaur?" Adora groaned.
"I did go for Humungosaur!" Ditto prime groaned.
"Less talk more pushing!" Ditto 2 on Adora's left groaned.
Bow meanwhile was studying the scroll detailing the Quest of Queens, he took a closer look so close he had it literally on his face.
The soon to be queen looked around and then noticed a very bored looking Mermista yawning her head off, while Perfuma approached rather excited hoping she would select her.
"You know, I bet Mermista would love to do the flowers!" Glimmer said to her aunt before turning to the Princess of the seas. "Right Mermista?"
"Wow, how did you know? Flower arranging is my passion." Mermista said in a somewhat bored sarcastic tone.
"Since when!" Ditto called which she just ignored.
"Ah! Wonderful! Now let's talk stem length." Casta said as she grabbed Mermista by the arm and lead her away to see a rather sad looking Perfuma between two large flowers she'd just grown.
"What? No! Why?" Perfuma cried in sadness. Leaving Glimmer rather surprised and weirded out.
Just then Swift Wind appeared out of nowhere. "Is now a good time to talk about my song for the coronation?" He then asked the soon to be queen. "I will require a stage, and oats for the backup horses." Suddenly an ice wall erupted between him and Glimmer as Frosta appeared in a tough attitude.
"Stop bothering Glimmer!"Frosta exclaimed as Swift Wind whined and flew away. "Bouncer!" Frosta shot her hands in the air and hurried away.
A brief flash of green light shone next to Glimmer as Ben walked up to her. "Well ya gotta admit at least she does give a cold reception."
That joke did make Glimmer smile a little, but before Ben could say anything else Adora jumped in next to him. "Hey! I think it's all really coming together, don't you?" She said with her arm around her friend.
However the sound of ice shattering, Perfuma weeping and Swifty whining could probably say otherwise. Ben cringed seeing that trying to make things perfect wasn't going at all according to plan. So Adora lead Glimmer away and Ben slowly followed.
Perfuma was still crying but just then a friendly voice appeared. "Perfuma?" She looked up to see it was Rook, but under his arm he was carrying a flat octagonal disk of an advanced design. "Is everything alright?"
"No Rook its not Glimmer asked Mermista to do flower arrangements instead of me I mean I'm the flower princess flowers are literally my thing!" Perfuma vented but realised she was losing her cool so she put her hands up in a meditating way and calmed herself down.
"So sorry about that." She said wiping her tears.
"Well perhaps you could assist me with your floral skills." Rook suggested.
"Really?" Perfuma beamed happily and noticed what he was carrying. "Ah what is that?"
"Oh it is something I am piecing together for after the coronation ceremony, and I think you can help me put it together." Rook said to her and she was rather curious about what he was doing.
"Oh how?" She asked Rook then leaned forward and whispered in her ear and she listened attentively to every word. After he was finished she was rather surprise.
"Tell me what I need to do my friend!" She said determined.
Meanwhile Ben, Adora and Glimmer walked over to find Bow studying the scroll very carefully. "Yep, it's gonna be perfect!" Adora said to her friend assuringly.
"Yeah sure it is." Ben tried but in his mind he was still unsure but pushed it aside for now. "So Bow what have we got on this little pre coronation quest thing?" He then asked feeling the need to change the subject.
"Still don't know what the lantern is for! "This is all so official and confusing." Bow said.
"Dude you don't have to read the whole thing, just skip around and read the important parts." Ben suggested to him. "The rest we can figure it out on the fly, worked when Rook used a banishing spell on Charmcaster. Besides the lanterns probably one of those guiding light on our path things."
"O…kay." Bow said and just to avoid a headache he tried it Bens way. "Oh heres something it says Glimmer needs to wear some ceremonial robe. But I don't know where to get that!"
"Well its gotta be somewhere in the castle right?" Ben asked.
"Yeah." Glimmer agreed. "Maybe if we all looked together…"
"Don't worry!" Adora then said as she grabbed both Ben and Bows arms. "The three of us will find it for you."
"But…" Glimmer tried but then Casta appeared.
"Glimmer, you're needed in the Dining Room at once to choose the napkin folding technique! I'm thinking swans, what do you think?" She then asked.
"Uh…I…" Glimmer tried to answer but it was difficult to.
"You're right, it's a terrible idea. I should just fire myself." Casta said like a drama queen.
"Aunt Casta, no….I.." Suddenly a waterfall splashed down out of nowhere and when it stopped the two of them were covered in seaweed and Glimmer had a starfish on her face. They shook them off and looked to Mermista.
"Mermista! Vases!" Casta called out and the whole courtyard was covered in water and seaweed.
"Don't stifle my creativity!"Mermista exclaimed.
"Uhg. Please." Casta groaned as she walked off.
"Uh anyone got a mop?" Ben asked. And as if on cue Adora transformed her sword into a mop.
"It's okay, we will handle everything. You go have fun!" Adora said as she hurried off to clean things up while Bow shimmied away slowly. Leaving Ben with Glimmer.
"Fun. Right." Glimmer sighed.
"Yeah heh quite a day huh." Ben said just for the sake of conversation.
"Yeah sure." Glimmer said about to walk off.
"Glimmer hold up." Ben said making her stop in her tracks. He decided it was time to talk to Glimmer because in his view avoiding the subject of her grief wasn't helping her nor was trying to make anything perfect for someone who was already overwhelmed by everything.
"Yeah?" Glimmer asked.
"Well…ah…how're you holding up?" Ben then asked.
"Oh I'll be okay, at least thats what everyones been telling me." Glimmer said trying to be upbeat even though she clearly wasn't. "I just never thought I would be queen."
"I know, a lot of people don't expect a lot of things." Ben said. "But you know it's always good to have someone to talk to right?"
"Sure if everyone wasn't busy trying to make sure my coronation is perfect and not a disaster!" Glimmer said. "I mean it…it just seems like a lot."
"Well when you say it like that." Ben tried to joke but saw Glimmer wasn't in a joking mood. He then turned to a sympathetic mood. "Okay in all seriousness I know with everything thats going on today its a lot but. Glimmer if you do need to talk even if its just to vent I'm always open."
That did put something of an understanding smile on Glimmers face. "Sure…but maybe I should ah try and find this robe thing." she said.
"Oh..okay well you go on ahead and I'll join you later." Ben offered.
"Ah..thanks Ben." Glimmer smiled as she walked way from the courtyard. She stopped for a moment and glowed like she was about to teleport away, but her gaze turned to the Moonstone glistening in its aura, but seeing it made her feel unsure and so she stopped before she could teleport away, and just walked on.
This hadn't gone unnoticed by Ben, and he was even more worried. "Not an easy conversation was it?" Rook appeared behind him with Perfuma.
"Ah I don't know Rook I mean what else could I say?" Ben questioned.
"Nothing you had not already said before." Rook said.
"Its just I get Adora and everyone else want to make today perfect for Glimmer to get her mind off, well everything but that doesn't seem to be working so good." Ben voiced.
"Dealing with grief is never an easy thing." Perfuma then said. "I mean after our first mission when we rescued Bow and Glimmer I felt devastated after we lost…or when we thought we lost Entrapta. I was not sure what to do."
"Yes it is never easy you should know that more than most Ben." Rook pointed out.
"But the differences is me Kevin and Gwen had each other to make it through but Glimmer doesn't have anyone right now with everyone trying to make today perfect." Ben voiced before he pinched his nose sighing. "Its just a lot."
"I know." Rook agreed while Perfuma shared the same solumn look.
"Well perhaps if you two Adora and Bow take a minute to talk to her maybe that might help her open up more." Perfuma voiced. "I've sensed her aura is conflicted right now and maybe friendly encouragement will help." Ben had to admit she did have a point maybe when everything wasn't so chaotic he'd pull the Best Friend Squad aside and hash it out.
"However, right now I must express my concern in the lack of Horde activity of late." Rook then voiced. "With the Rebellion currently leaderless this would be an ideal time for them to attack."
"Yeah but they haven't." Just then Netossa and Spinerella came over. "We haven't heard a peep out of them in months probably looking for all the loose bolts we knocked out after She-Ra and Alien X put the kibosh on Hordak's portal." Netossa voiced.
In the aftermath of the portal being destroyed and Angella's 'funeral' Ben told Glimmer, Bow and the other princesses in the alliance about Alien X, and needless to say finding out he had an alien with the powers of a god was more than shocking.
Flashback: Two months ago:
"ALIEN X HAS THE POWER OF A GOD!" Bow exclaimed. All the princesses, Sea Hawk, Ben and Rook were gathered in the war room as Ben had finished telling them about Alien X.
"Yeah pretty much." Ben said bashfully rubbing the back of his head.
"So how come you've never used him before?" Glimmer asked. "I mean we'd have a huge advantage over the Horde?"
"Because Glimmer that power comes at a price." Ben said. "Like being immobile for who knows how long until I get him to cooperate."
"Uh what?" Mermista asked.
"Well Celestialsapiens spend a majority of their time debating with their duel consciousness. Meaning Alien X cannot move or use his power until they reach a consensus." Rook explained.
"Yeah and let me tell ya those arguments are nothing but a headache in my own head." Ben explained.
"But didn't you say you got full control with him after some misunderstanding?" Adora asked.
"Yeah said misunderstanding in the galactic court being how I 'supposedly' abused Alien X's power to recreate the universe after it was destroyed by an age old doomsday device the Anialarrgh!" Ben explained rather dramatically. "Hey I said it right."
"But you did recreate the universe didn't you, and saved loads of people?" Perfuma asked.
"Oh yeah, but like I said that power can come at a price especially if the Omnitrix were to fall into the wrong hands. So after we beat Maltruant I asked Kevin to put a security measure in the Omnitrix to lock out Alien X's DNA so no-one not even me could access it." Ben explained.
"Unless these two override keys are used." Rook explained showing said keys.
"But let's just say this whole thing with the portal forced me to use him again." Ben said. Everyone had listened intently the whole time and even Glimmer realised that even that much power would be too much for someone to handle. Adora realised why Ben had taken precautions to make sure that power couldn't be abused.
Present day:
"Well trust me girls when bad guys go quiet its never a good sign." Ben said to Nettossa.
"Indeed the enemy could be regrouping to prepare for their next move." Rook added. "So I have told the general to tighten security around the palace, and the Proximity Sensors I dispersed to the other kingdoms and here should warn us of any Horde forces that should try to attack. But there's very little else we can do."
"Well at least that counts for something right?" Spinerella agreed with some positivity.
"But I'll bet anything that Catra's planning her next move!" Ben said with a glare in his eye.
The Fright Zone:
The Fright Zone was strangely quiet, no military, training or attack plan activity what so ever. Within the confines of Hordak sanctum all was also quiet the whole lab was in ruins and all the equipment practically destroyed. Catra walked into the room and she looked different, her hair was more grown out and the fluff under her ears were gone. She entered the ruins of her masters lab, her foot accidentally stepped on a piece of broken machinery, namely the cuffs that restrained her enemies.
She looked to see Hordak himself sitting on a destroyed pillar looking down in grief. But this wasn't about his thwarted plans.
"Hordak." She addressed him. "Our troops are just sitting around. What are we waiting for? Its been three months now We need to talk about plans for…"
"Plans? Hordak chuckled before he briefly looked to her. "Your last plan was to set off the portal machine before it was ready. Do you remember how that ended?"
"Whatever. It worked out for us, didn't it?" Catra questioned. "The Rebellion's a mess. Their queen is gone. Now's our chance to gain the upper hand."
Hordak stood up and looked down on the Force Captain with the First Ones tech in his armour glowing. "And how are we going to do that when you couldn't even prevent the Rebellion from infiltrating the Fright Zone?"
"Yeah, like I said before, it was Entrapta who…" The moment Catra said that name Hordak flew into a rage, grabbing a piece of equipment and tossed it across the room with his enhanced strength. This startled Catra so much her tail was buzzing with fear.
"I told you never to mention that name in my presence!" Hordak yelled in fury. "If you are so desperate for a task, redouble our defenses so that no Princess can ever set foot in the Fright Zone again!" All the time Hordak vented Catra's gaze turned to the First Ones chip that was inside his armour on his neck. She wondered why it was glowing. "It would seem you share the same incompetence that your predesessor had, namely the fact that the shapeshifter Ben Tennyson is able to take the form of a Celestialsapien!"
"A what?" Catra questioned, but she realises he was talking about that alien Ben had used to help She-Ra destroy Hordak's lab.
Hordak just growled in furstration. "Your ignorance stagers me! Celestialsapiens are powerful cosmic beings of the wider universe! With the power to shape time, space and reality with a slight of hand. Their powers are that of a god!"
To say Catra was surprised was an understatment, that alien had powers equal to that of a god, no wonder he tore through the lab so easily.
"You say the Rebellion is weaker now with the loss of their queen, your an impudent fool! The boy is an even greater threat than you or Shadow Weaver ever imagined! All it would take is a snap of his fingers to wipe us of the face of the planet!" Hordak yelled snapping his fingers for emphasis. "We cannot challenge him or She-Ra while their powers are greater than my own!" His mood calmed as he pointed to a broken screen that was sending out a signal. "Fortunately for you, my signal to Horde Prime went through."
"Great so…" Catra started but then Hordak walked towards her forcing her to back away.
"That's the only reason you're here instead of facing punishment for your failure! Now…GET…OUT!" He growled as Catra stood in place, he left her then slammed his hand on the control panel sealing the door but not before Catra gave a smirk as the door closed, she was indeed hatching a plan.
Bright Moon: Glimmers room:
Back in Bright Moon, Glimmer was all alone in her room sitting on the poof chair. She looked at her hands and tried to use her magic, however for some reason her powers were rather weak, almost like they weren't at full strength just some flickering sparkles.
She was feeling nervous and unsure in herself but just then. "Well, it took some searching, but we finally found the Royal Coronation Robe!" Bow, Adora, Ben and Casta had arrived in the room holding a rather large looking robe. Adora carried it over and Glimmer put it on.
"Wow, Glimmer! You look... Um" Adora tried but the robe was way too big for Glimmer and it looked rather heavy. Ben just shook his head with his head in his hand, it was clear this robe was meant for someone larger and well with wings.
"I'm not so sure about this." Ben admitted. "Its a bit uh big?"
"Ah not that there's anything wrong with big right?" Adora tried with a smile and thumbs up, Ben and Bow tried to give a similar smile. Glimmer tried to crack a smile but she knew it looked awful on her.
"Oh, my little Glimmer. I'm so proud of you." Castaspella said putting a sympathetic hand on her nieces cheek. "I know you're going to make such a wonderful queen, and I know your mother would be so proud of you." She said and this did make Glimmer feel a little comforted but in a split second.
"Well, almost time for your quest! Give me a tick and this robe will fit like a dream!" She then said popping her nose rather cute, which all but saddened Glimmer again for a moment she thought she was being comforted.
"Geez don't they teach people how to be sensitive in Mystacor?" Ben said in his mind.
"Of course. The quest we still don't know anything about." Glimmer said almost panicking.
"Hey hey Glimmer its gonna be okay, just take a deep breath." Ben said to her and so she took several deep breaths before she calmed down.
"Ah thanks and yea your right Ben. It'll be fine. Castaspella will fix the robe, you guys have the lantern, and I'll have you guys by my side the whole way. Right?"
"Of course we will." Adora smiled.
"Yeah we're with you all the way Glims, there's no quest we can't beat." Ben smiled which Glimmer seemed comforted by their enthusiasm. However she noticed the absence of one of her friends in the room.
"Ah where's Rook?" Glimmer asked.
"Dunno?" Ben shrugged.
"I think I remember seeing him, Perfuma and Netossa in the corridor earlier but couldn't see what they were doing." Adora answered.
Bow however looked a little panicked. "Ah Ben, Adora a word real quick." He pulled them aside to talk to them and they went out of the room.
"I don't know where the lantern is!" Bow whispered trying not to panic.
"What but Bow I gave it to you earlier before we went looking for that cloak?" Ben questioned.
"Yeah and I put it in my room for safe keeping so I could figure out what it does before the quest started. But when I went to go get it it was gone!" Bow said.
"What?" Adora exclaimed in whispers. "But who would take it?"
"More like why I mean who would take a fancy lantern?" Ben shrugged.
"Guys don't you get it!" Bow said on the verge of panicking. "Glimmer can't do the quest without it, and she can't be queen without the quest! I've doomed the entire kingdom!"
"Bow, calm down!" Adora said on the verge of panicking herself.
"Both of you calm down!" Ben then said loudly himself getting their attention "Look the lantern can't have gone far someone must've picked it up by accident."
Adora then took a breath. "Y..your right we just have to find the lantern, and Glimmer will be none the wiser. It has to be around here somewhere, right? This day is going to be perfect!" She said slapping his arm forcing a smile on her face as she walked off.
Bow and Ben looked at each other concerned, but the bearer of the Omnitrix decided it was time to deal with this."Bow go look for Rook and find the lantern." Ben said as he walked off after Adora.
It didn't take him long to catch up to her in the hallways. "Adora hold up." Ben called getting her attention. "Look we need to talk."
"Oh don't tell me, you want me to stay calm and instead of making today perfect we should be talking to Glimmer about Angella's sacrifice." Adora voiced in a semi annoyed voice.
"Well that saves me the trouble of saying it." Ben said. "Look I know today isn't easy, but if we keep putting it off it's only going to get worse."
"Thats why we have to make things perfect for her today Ben! And no lost lantern is gonna stop that and it means I don't have to talk about how we failed to save her mom and how it's all our fault she's gone!" Adora exclaimed. That statement took Ben completely by surprise.
"I..It should've been me Ben…it was my sword that caused this, I failed to stop Catra from opening the portal." Adora said.
"I was there with you remember and even with Alien X I was powerless to do anything and I hate even thinking about it too!" Ben told her loudly but then he took a moment to calm down. "But we can't keep avoiding it forever the more we avoid it the more it can haunt us. And Glimmers not showing it but she's already at breaking point about today and her mom."
Adora was surprised, in all that was going on she didn't notice how Glimmer was handling today. "What?" She breathed. "But how do you know?"
"Cause I had that exact same look after I thought I lost my Grandpa Max." Ben told her before he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Look I know it's painful to talk about but you said being there for each other was a two way street so you don't have to talk to her alone, we can do it together."
Adora looked unsure about that. "Look all I'm suggesting is before we go on this quest you, me, Bow, Rook and Glimmer step aside to talk about this." Ben said to her. "We promised Angella we would didn't we?"
It was true in the Queens final moments she made them promise to take care of each other, but it was harder than they thought. "O…Okay." Adora hesitantly agreed. Just at that moment they looked to see some guards approaching them, but when they parted they were surprised to see.
Shadow Weaver, her hair was looking better and her mask had been fully repaired. Adora flinched back in surprise and Ben instinctively stepped in front of her. "There's no need to be alarmed. I'm a guest now. Can't you tell?" Shadow Weaver said a litter chipper or her version of it. The guards felt rather unsure.
"Yeah a guest thats on house arrest." Ben pointed out, namely on the white bracelet that was on the sorceress's right wrist.
Though Shadow Weaver aided in helping the Rebellion infiltrate the Fright Zone to rescue Adora and Ben, there were still some concerns about her intentions. So Rook suggested putting her under house arrest and as a deterrent she wore a bracelet that if she stepped outside of Bright Moon or attempt to use her magic to escape it would immediately alert Rook and Bow via the tracker pad and she would immediately be confined to her cell.
"Yes a rather crude accessory but I do admire your sense of caution." Shadow Weaver admitted. "Please, convey my best wishes to our new queen. I hope you all are till close."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Adora asked.
"Oh nothing it's just power changes people." Shadow Weaver simply suggested.
"Oh and I'm sure your the expert on that?" Ben said.
"Glimmer is a good friend and a good person. She'll be a good queen, too." Adora said as she walked away while Shadow Weaver just looked to her.
"Hmm. I hope for your sake, you're right." She simply said.
"She is right." Ben said. "Because unlike you she and I know Glimmer, she's a good leader and she's always kept the fight going. Not that you'd know those things."
"Oh but I do, she does remind me of Micah she has his determination to succeed." Shadow Weaver then said. This seemed to make Ben angry.
"Oh really tell that to Catra you know the student you drove to do what she did to Angella." Ben said angered. "So you're the absolute last person to judge anyone. And you know your position here isn't a rite its a privilege and that privilege can easily be revoked and down graded to your prison cell."
All was silent for a moment before Shadow Weaver spoke again. "You know I could do something about that scar of yours Benjamin it doesn't really suit your current complexion."
"Says the one who hides her scars behind a mask." Ben scoffed.
"Trust me boy, if you saw what was behind this mask you'd hide it too." Shadow Weaver simply said.
"Tell it to someone who cares." Ben then stormed away, he realised he was holding in his anger the whole time, keeping every inch of his fibre from tearing her apart.
In the courtyard Adora came through the door to the outside, and was soon joined by Ben. "You okay?" She asked.
"Yeah but remind me again why we let her roam free round the castle?" Ben asked her.
"Tell me about it." Adora sighed in agreement.
"Adora! Ben!" They were suddenly surprised by Frosta causing them to jump. "I've been freezing anyone trying to sneak in, but I'm running out of space to put them."
They looked to see Sea Hawk was frozen in ice near the ice sculpture he looked surprised and confused. Ben just face palmed himself. "Oh for the love of…" He grumbled.
"UNFREEZE HIM RIGHT NOW!" Adora ordered prompting Frosta to nod and hurry away.
"And get a list of the guests while your at it!" Ben called.
Mermista meanwhile was putting together a flower arrangement of undersea flowers and coral. However Perfuma who had finished helping Rook with what he needed had come to inspect her work. And she was not liking what she was seeing and she didn't like it that she was doing this instead of her.
"Hmmm! Mermista, um, flowers are sort of my thing." She voiced. Seeing that Mermista had put together a few sea flowers, barnacles and seaweed on a rock.
"Uh, it's art and it's what Glimmer wants. New queen, new era." Mermista reminded her, just then Frosta pushed herself between them.
"Stop fighting!" Frosta yelled. "You're ruining Glimmer's big day! Bouncer!" She said just as a panicking Bow appeared.
"Okay, has anyone seen a sacred lantern?" He asked on the verge of freaking out.
"Yeah. There." Mermista pointed out and Bow turned round to see the lantern hanging off Swift Winds horn.
"Ha ha!" He proclaimed and this made Bow breath a sigh of relief.
"Okay now you can relax." Ben said in some sort of relief.
"Oh! We've been looking all over for it! Thanks, Swifty." Adora breathed in relief but as she tried to reach for the lantern Swift Wind swooped his head away from her hand.
"And I'll present it to Queen Glimmer." Swift Wind said rather gloatingly. "And she'll be all, 'Swift Wind, why don't you sing the coronation song you made up?"" Adora was just getting annoyed with everything not going perfectly and the last thing she needed was Swift Wind joking around.
"Ah Swifty you might wanna hand over that lantern before…." Ben tried but it was too late Adora leaped onto Swift Wind to get the lantern. "And its too late." He said. "Oh the heck with it!"
He activated the Omnitrix and used it to turn into Rath . "Let me tell ya something Swift Wind you give Rath that lantern right now or Rath will take it from you THE HARD WAY!" He yelled and leaped after his friends.
"Queen Glimmer, It's your day , we're all excited for you …" Swift Wind sang.
At that very moment Glimmer arrived in the courtyard and gaped with shock at what was going on. The flower displays were nothing but coral and rocks, Frosta's ice sculpture was melting, Sea Hawk was still frozen and whining, while Adora, Bow and Rath were fighting with a singing Swift Wind to get the lantern off his horn. Seeing everything turning into a disaster was getting too much for her and now it was about to get worse.
"Glimmer, can you please tell Perfuma to stop questioning your wise judgment?" Mermista said angrily while looking at Perfuma.
"And please tell Mermista that her judgement on flowers is clearly flawed!" Perfuma argued.
"What? I'm not..." Glimmer was about to argue but then Frosta grabbed her by the face and turned her towards her.
"Where do you keep the blankets? Sea Hawk is whining about being frozen." Frosta asked her.
"Why did you free…?" Glimmer questioned then Castaspella grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face her.
"Glimmer, the quest is due to begin. Where's the lantern?" She asked.
"I have it!" Swift Wind called with Bow, Adora and Rath still trying to get it off his horn. "And now, my song!"
"Let me tell ya something Swifty the only song your gonna sing is RATHS SONG OF PAIN!" Rath yelled. Then suddenly out of nowhere a cable line ensnared the lantern and pulled it off the magical flying horses horn, and the lantern landed in Rooks hands.
"I feel like I have missed a great deal." Rook voiced seeing all the chaos that's going on.
"Everyone knows Glimmer would be happier with me on flowers!" Perfuma argued at Mermista with Glimmer being caught in the middle.
"Glimmer obviously disagrees." Mermista argued back.
"Glimmer, your guests are waiting." Castaspella reminded her niece. Rath saw what was happening and saw that Glimmer was being overwhelmed with everyone talking at once, Rook could see this as well as Adora and Bow.
"Hey will everyone zip it and calm down!" Rath exclaimed.
"Guys please!" Adora tried.
"Everyone, stop bothering Glimmer. She has a ton on her plate!" Frosta then said while Swift Wind was still singing.
"Ah guys." Bow tried.
"Everyone please let us stay…."
With everyones voices surrounding her all at once it was all just too much. No one not even her friends talked to her once about how she was feeling like she was being pulled in different directions with all thats going on today and with the loss of her mother it was just getting like she couldn't breathe. Until finally.
"EVERYONE JUST STOP!" She yelled finally bringing everyone to attention, the Glimmer head on the ice sculpture cracked and fell off the statue and it rolled to the soon to be queens feet. Everyone gasped and looked surprised The Omnitrix timed out and changed Rath back to Ben who looked worried.
"Glimmer, we will fix all of this." Casta tried putting her hand on her shoulder. However she just brushed her off and went over to Rook who offered her the lantern with an understanding expression. She took the lantern from him and walked away ever so silent, before she turned to everyone with a solemn and grieving look.
"Let's just get this over with." She breathed and walked inside to get ready for the quest. Everyone was now completely alone.
"Well that didn't go well." Mermista voiced. For Ben that was the last straw. It was intervention time.
"Oh really what tipped you off?" He said anrgy.
"We…we only wanted to make everything perfect for her today." Perfuma voiced.
"How could it all go so wrong?" Casta voiced.
"I'll tell ya how it all went wrong." Ben voiced. "Has it occurred to everyone that maybe trying to make things perfect today is part of the problem! Maybe instead of making the perfect coronation we should be focusing on the person who just lost her mom!" He then exclaimed getting everyones attention. "Has anyone once ever asked how she's been doing or even listened to her once today!"
The other Princesses and rebel members all looked at each other saddened at Bens words. "We…we just thought that she didn't want to talk about it." Castaspella said. "But…maybe that was wrong, and now everything is such a mess."
Adora sighed realising that Ben was right they really weren't helping Glimmer at all. "Okay look, I know we've tried to make things perfect but Bens right Glimmer needs her friends now more than ever." She said. "So while we're on this quest you guys get things cleaned up and ready by the time we get back."
"But this time we do what we always do come together and be there for each other." Bow placed an understanding and confident smile on everyones faces, and so Ben, Rook, Adora and Bow headed off to get ready for the quest.
The Fright Zone:
In the ever quiet of the Fright Zone, Catra entered a room and found a lot of destroyed tech and trash some of it that belonged to Entrapta was still here."What are you doing in here?" Catra saw Scorpia kneeling on the ground near a pile of scrap metal and trash, holding a bowl full of nuts and bolts.
"You heard Hordak." Catra reminded the Scorpi Force Captain as she stood up. "He wants all this junk disposed of as soon as possible." she picked up one of Entrapta's small pet robots and squished it like a squeaky toy.
"Hey, so, I know you made a heat of the moment decision which I totally get, but, um, you didn't really want Entrapta to stay on Beast Island forever." Scorpia pointed out. "Anyway, I was thinking we cold go back and get her? I mean, she is our friend."
In response to that Catra crushed the robot to pieces without emotion or a single word. This sent a cold chill down Scorpia's spine. "Entrapta betrayed us, and got what she deserved." She hissed angrily.
"But she didn't betray us." Scorpia said trying to get through to her. "She wanted to save us from the portal. And she was right, if Adora and Ben hadn't shut it down…."
The moment she heard those names she yelled and pushed Scorpia into a wall and slammed her clawed hand right next to her hear shattering the stone in the wall.
"Entrapta betrayed Hordak." She said angered and glaring. "As for the portal, it left the Rebellion in shambles, left them leaderless and that means it worked." She scratched the wall as the rocks screeched and Scorpia was paralysed in fear. "Got it?!"
Scorpia nodded silently. "Good so keep telling yourself that cause I don't want to hear another word about it!" Catra took a breath and straightened out her hair. "Now, get this place cleared out." She said more calmly and left the room the door sealing shut behind her.
Scorpia breathed out realising she'd been holding her breath the whole time. She knelt down and placed the bowl of nuts and bolts on the floor. Almost like they were for someone.
"It's okay. You can come out." She said and some R2D2 like beeps could be heard and stepping out was Emily the robot, and she was very happy to see Scorpia.
"Hey there, Emily. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." She stroked the robots side and placed her forehead on the robot orbs face and she beeped happily.
With Entrapta gone Scorpia decided to look after her robot companion, in a way it was like she was still with her. However he gaze looked to the door, and she was even more worried about Catra, after the events of the portal she'd become someone she didn't even recognise anymore.
Elsewhere:
Catra found herself wandering into her former sleeping quarters, and knelt down to the bed that she once shared with Adora. On the wall of the bed she saw an old kids picture of her and Adora scratched on the wall only with claw marks on Adora's face. They made that when they were kids but she slashed at it the day Adora left the Horde. She'd been carrying so much hurt since then.
Flashback:
Her memory flashed back to that moment in the portal room, as She-Ra and Alien X looked down on her.
"I hope it was worth it!" She glared. "You are responsible for your own decisions. And now you deal with the consequences that follow. As of now… you're dead to me!"
Those words echoed in Catra's mind over and over and over again. Like they were haunting finally.
Present day:
*SLASH!* Catra breathed heavily and had the look of a rabid animal, she looked at what she'd done and was now shaking. After a moment she took a deep breath and calmed down before she left the room. She had scratched Adora's face off the drawing completely now, as she descended further into darkness. All alone.
Bright Moon:
Dusk began to settle over Bright Moon, people from every kingdom and village were now standing before a massive arched bridge before a large glittering wall of water. Trumpets sounded in the air and on the bridge before the waterfall was Castaspella on the right while on the left, was Adora, Ben, Rook and Bow all dressed up in the outfits they wore on Princess Prom. This time though Bow had his namesake and arrows and Rook's Proto Tool rested on his shoulder.
Adora straightened out her dress at that moment everyone looked to the castle and coming down from the stairs was Glimmer, now wearing the shortened ceremonial robe and carried the lantern in her hands. She now wore a crown on her forehead similar to what her mother once wore upon her head.
Glimmer looked passed all the civilians of Etheria and looked to see her aunt, Adora, Bow, Ben and Rook smiling warmly with pride at her. However she didn't smile back she just looked with a mutual expression she just wanted today to be over and done with. So joined them on the bridge.
Castaspella pulled out a scroll and began to read from it. "We are gathered here today to witness the crowning of Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon as she completes the Quest of Queens and begins her reign as our new leader." Glimmer looked unsure as her aunt spoke. Bow, Adora, Ben and Rook looked to each other rather nervous and then gave a small smile.
"She will be accompanied by four witnesses, Master Archer Bow, Adora, She-Ra, Princess of Power, Ben Tennyson of the planet Earth and Rook Blonko of the planet Revonnah." Casta finished.
That signalled Mermista to step forward and made several waves of her hand to part the waters of the waterfall and revealed a doorway leading down to the depths.
"Let the light guide you and go forth in peace and safety to emerge as Queen of Bright Moon." Casta said as the waters fully parted, and the Best Friend Squad entered the doorway and the waterfall sealed behind them.
The silence was rather awkward, Ben hintingly nudged Adora's shoulder telling her to talk to Glimmer. So she did. "So, quest! Heh. We're good at quests." Adora voiced enthusiastically. Which resulted in Ben just shaking his head grimly.
"Can we just do this, please?" Glimmer said impatiently. "I don't want to think about flowers, or colors, or stupid decisions. And we're bad at quests." She said and started walking down into the tunnels.
The group looked even more worried. "Perhaps it is best we get our quest underway." Rook voiced and so they all hurried after Glimmer down into the tunnels.
When they caught up with Glimmer they breathed in amazement, the caverns were alit with crystals embedded in the rocks and larger crystals in the very ground. It was beautiful.
"Whoa." Ben and Bow breathed in surprise.
"Truly beautiful." Rook agreed.
"I can't believe these tunnels have been underneath our feet all this time." Bow said rather amazed.
"Didn't even know there were crystal tunnels underneath Bright Moon?" Ben wondered. "How come no-one ever comes down here?"
"Most likely it is sacred ground, like many ancient lands no-one will set foot on it for fear of desecration." Rook voiced.
"So, how deep down do you think we are?" Adora asked.
"Most likely several feet underground." Rook said as he pulled out his scanner and looked to see the depth.
"Okay, what's with you guys?" Glimmer then yelled. "Stop acting like this!"
"Like what?" Adora asked rather surprised as were the others.
"Like… Like…Like this!" Glimmer exclaimed angrily her friends looked at each other and realised she was talking about how they've been acting all day. "I'm so sick of everyone acting like nothing is going on!"
"Glimmer, we're just…" Adora tried.
"Whatever. None of this even matters!" Glimmer angrily tossed the lantern away and it bounced down into the tunnel.
Ben just sighed. "Okay look guys I know tensions are high right now, but we need to address this now."
"Oh so now you wanna talk about…" Glimmer was about to lose it but then suddenly they all heard a chiming sound in the air, getting their attention.
Rook then noticed something. "Look." He pointed and everyones gaze turned to the lantern on the ground it was glowing brighter than before, then looked to a distant tunnel that was more illuminated than the others.
"You know Ben I think that guiding light idea of yours is ringing true." Bow breathed and so with anticipation the group hurried down the tunnel as Glimmer picked up the lantern and went deeper into the underground tunnels.
After a long trek the group emerged into a very large chamber, crystals were in the walls with stone arches and carving patterns on the floor with a large crystal illuminating the room.
"Now thats an eye opener and no mistake." Ben voiced.
"Indeed." Rook agreed.
"I think… I think this is the Chamber of Queens!" Bow realised.
"Look!" Adora said and their gaze turned to a golden altar with a crescent moon pattern and a painting of the Moonstone sat atop it.
"That altar. I read about that in the scroll." Bow realised. "I think it's for the lantern."
"Bow maybe correct, the guiding light that brought us here is the key to finishing the quest." Rook realised.
"Well what're we waiting for!" Glimmer beamed and they hurried towards the altar, their quest seemed to be at an end. Little did they know that something was lurking in the cavern roof, just as they approached the altar.
*SMASH!* Something slammed into the ground with such devastating force. "That must've been a boulder that fell down right?" Ben hoped but he had a bad feeling about this.
They slowly turned around and what greeted them was a giant worm like creature with greyish violet armoured skin with pink spiked tips and in the middle of its head was a large blue eye.
"Is this part of the quest?" Adora breathed.
"I'm gonna say yes." Ben gulped.
"Perhaps it is friendly." Rook hoped but no it wasn't.
Its large mouth opened revealing rows and rows of serrated teeth and let out a loud roar. "TEETH GIANT TEETH!" Bow yelled in horror as the monster reeled its head.
"MOVE!" Rook yelled, they all tried to run for it but the monster slammed its head into the ground sending everyone flying into the air spiralling out of control amongst the flying rubble. In mid air Ben activated the Omnitrix and transformed. Upon landing he was now Shocksquatch and looked at the monster. Glimmer was still spinning in the air and let go of the lantern, which fell near the monster, Glimmer was grabbed mid air by Shocksquatch he held her bridal style.
"Gotya!" He said and lowered her to the ground, but she looked to see the lantern but the monster was between her and it as it roared out about to attack its prey.
"The lantern!" Glimmer exclaimed trying to reach for it.
"Glimmer!" Adora and Bow held her back to stop her as the monster closed in but Shocksquatch stood between them and unleashed a massive blast of electricity shocking the monster causing it to roar in pain.
Rook then followed by firing his Proto tool at the beast to draw it away from his friends. The beast looked to Rook and charged at him. With his swift agility the Revonnahgander dived to the right avoiding the beast before firing a grapple line from his weapon and swung upwards. The beast roared and slithered after its prey which detached the rope and formed his Proto Tool into a rocket launcher, but before he could fire it the beast swatted him with its tail sending him crashing into the wall.
"Rook!" Glimmer exclaimed. The beast was about to finish him off when suddenly a brief green flash of light shone and out of nowhere Atomix flew in and landed a solid punch on the beast sending it flying into the wall.
Adora, Bow, and Glimmer hurried to Rook and helped him to his feet. "Comrades, head for the tunnels I'll hold this thing off!"
Glimmer saw the lantern and tried to run and get it but Rook stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Forget it Glimmer we need to fall back!" He reminded her and they hurried for the tunnels, the beast slithered after them and tried to grab them in its jaw only to be met by one of Atomix's nuclear blasts which blasted it in the face. It turned to him and lunched itself at the flying alien. Atomix ducked out of the way and landed a punch on its back knocking it into a wall.
"Time for the Fissile Whistle!" Atomix proclaimed and charged at the beast like a speeding bullet, but suddenly the beast swung its tail and swatted him into a wall followed by the beast ramming into him, grabbing his arm in its mouth and tossed him to the right sending him crashing to the ground with a grunt.
Thanks to his enhanced durability he handled the impacts but he'd used up a lot of energy and he collapsed to the ground exhausted before he changed back to Ben who groaned on the ground.
"Ben!" Bow cried as the group saw Ben was at the mercy of the monster.
"I've got him!" Adora quickly drew her sword and changed it into a rope and swung it like a lasso before she let it fly. It latched onto Bens left leg and together, she, Bow, Rook and Glimmer pulled him across the room and into the tunnel on the left of the room before the beast rammed into the entrance. Fortunately it was too small for it to enter.
Ben groaned as he got his bearings back. "You okay?" Adora asked concerned they were now in a crystal cave that shook every time the monster rammed into it.
"I'm good." Ben breathed. "But seriously WHO KEEPS A GIANT MONSTER UNDERNEATH A CASTLE!"
"Yeah thats a good point the scroll didn't mention a giant angry monster living in the tunnels under Bright Moon?" Adora said angrily as another quake from the monster shook the cave and everyone was now against a wall.
"Come to think of it, I might remember some mention of a Bright Moon guardian that we'd have to subdue." Bow admitted rather sheepishly.
"BOW!" Adora exclaimed.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION THIS EARLIER!" Ben exclaimed.
"You said it was okay not to read the whole thing and only mention the important parts!" Bow exclaimed in panic.
"Bow there is a time for skimming ancient texts, and being underground and attacked by a giant is certainly not it!" Rook exclaimed.
"It was confusingly worded!" Bow exclaimed.
"Oh of course there's always a guard at the gate!" Ben exclaimed, he slapped himself in the head.
"We must need to subdue this Guardian so that the lantern can be used in the pedestal, it would seem there is a trial by fire element!" Rook exclaimed as the cave shook and rocks fell from the ceiling. "If the monster keeps this up it may bring the whole cave down on top of us!"
"Not to mention it's indestructible I hit him hard as Atomix and its like it didn't even feel it!" Ben exclaimed and the cave shook again the monster was getting closer. This seemed to be a fight they couldn't win.
"We need to get out of here." Adora breathed before she turned to Glimmer. "Come on, teleport us out!"
However Glimmer just stood there rubbing her hand and afraid. "I…I can't teleport!" She admitted.
"WHAT!" Ben exclaimed suddenly the cave shook and Glimmer fell to the ground and looked to her surprised friends.
"Glimmer!" Adora breathed in shock.
"What? Why not?" Bow asked but Rook came to a horrifying realisation, and the reason why she had not been teleporting over the last few months.
"Be…because she has no magic to teleport with!" Rook breathed. "Do you not?" He asked Glimmer who just couldn't hide it anymore as she crouched up in a corner.
"Yes alright!" Glimmer exclaimed loudly with tears in her eyes. "I haven't been recharging my powers!"
"WHAT!" Adora, Bow and Ben exclaimed.
"Recharging would mean taking the Moonstone's full power for myself." She admitted with tears streaming down her face. "It would mean... admitting that she's really gone." The group all looked to each other with the same realisation, Glimmer had been having a hard time accepting what her mother did so they could survive.
"Everyone is already acting like she doesn't matter. It's like no one remembers her." Glimmer sobbed hugging a crystal. "No one cares. We're having a coronation because she's gone, and everyone is acting like it's a fun party and it's not."
She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw it was Ben who knelt down to her. "Of course it's not, I mean having a party after what was the most traumatic event of our lives, still remembering all that happened not even getting time to process it all. It's messed up." Ben told her. "But I guess it's all we know what to do, just just so we don't think about what happened but thats wrong and I guess with all that was going on we didn't have time to talk about this."
"No." Adora then said kneeling down to her as well. "This is on us. I just thought talking about it... About her. It hurts." Adora hugged her friend as she cried into her shoulder. "But Bens right we should've thought of you better. We're supposed to take care of you, Glimmer. It's the last thing she asked me and Ben to do. I wanted to make today perfect. But I…"
"We just don't know what to do." Bow said solemnly.
"None of us do, dealing with the grief of losing a loved one is never an easy thing to accept, some accept it, some ignore it and some run from it." Rook voiced.
"I don't know either." Glimmer sobbed a little. "The…the last thing I said to her was she was frozen by fear, I called her a coward."
Ben sighed. "Do you remember how I told you about the Highbreed conspiracy that my Grandpa Max was investigating." Glimmer and everyone nodded and listened. "Well me Gwen and Kevin caught up with him when we were looking for Gwens brother who got captured by the Highbreed. But when we were overwhelmed he sacrificed himself to stop them by blowing the place in a crater in the ground." Glimmer looked shocked.
"I mean yeah he's okay now, but that had to be the most horrifying time of my life, the man was…like a second father to me and Gwen he made us the people we are now. After we thought he was gone we never got time to grieve." Ben continued. "It still haunts me to this day, he knew that wouldn't stop them just slow them down, and I realised why he did what he did it's the same reason Angella did what she did."
They all listened intently. "Because they knew we'd keep the fight going and finish what they started. But if there's one thing I've learned is that even though the people we love maybe gone it doesn't mean they're not still with us." He then pointed to Glimmers chest where her heart was. "In here."
"He's right." Adora agreed. "Angella told us she felt afraid but in that moment she chose to be strong, she chose to be brave. And we can still remember her by fighting in her name."
Glimmer looked around and saw the smiling a supportive faces of the friends who loved her. She knew they were right, they'd been through the worst together and they were here for her now.
"Y…your right." Glimmer wiped away her tears. "we can still figure it out. Together."
"Whatever path you choose, we'll always be there, right beside you." Adora said with a smile.
"No matter what happens." Rook agreed.
"Even if that path leads to a giant crystal monster?" Glimmer laughed in sobs.
"Especially if the path leads to a giant crystal monster." Adora said.
"Nothing we can't handle. We're great at quests." Bow agreed.
"We've faced the worst that the Horde could throw at us and we always made it through okay." Ben said. "And no matter what comes next we'll face it as we always do. Together." He placed his hand out and it wasn't long until Adora placed her hand on his, Bow's on hers, Rook's on his and finally with a warm smile Glimmer put her hand on his.
"Together." Glimmer breathed. "Best Friend Squad forever?"
"Best Friend Squad forever!" They all cheered lifting their hands in the air. But their joyous moment was cut short by the shaking of the cave and the loud roar of the monster that was trying to get to them.
"Come on. Let's do this." Glimmer then said with a determined smile.
With that Adora drew her sword and held it aloft and said. "FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!"A bright light consumed the entire cave as Ben activated the Omnitrix and slammed down the dial as he too transformed.
Outside the cave the Guardian was still ramming the cave entrance and just as it was about to attack, it was greeted by She-Ra who leaped up and slashed it across the face with her sword. The Guardian was quick to recover but was suddenly met by Humungousaur who leaped up and landed a solid punch in its eye causing the beast to cry in pain and fall onto its back.
They were soon joined by Glimmer, Rook and Bow armed with their respective weapons as they faced down this monster. They smiled confidently at each other.
"Ben care to Omni-Kix it up?" Glimmer asked.
"Music to my ears." Humungosaur smirked and so he twisted the Omnitrix dial 90 degrees and in a flash of light he armoured up.
One awesome transformation later he was now armoured up, us face, lower jaw, torso, arms and knees are covered in white and orange armour plating. With some black on his body and grey on his neck. His jaw was shaped like a digger shovel The inside of his mouth and shoulders are in a green colour with glowing green circles on his shoulder, while his tail now had a cylindrical mace with grey spikes/spines running from his neck and back. The Omnitrix remained on his chest with his green band now made of green metal.
"OMNI-KIX HUMUNGOSAUR!" He proclaimed.
With that the heroes charged into battle. She-Ra leaped in first landing a blow onto its eye causing it to cry in pain, this left it open for the armoured Vaxasaurian to leap in with enhanced abilities, swing his energised tail mace and the impact blasted the Guardian across the room slamming it into a wall.
"Heh eat that ya Basilisk wannabe!" Omni-Kix Humungousaur smirked. "Glimmer go!"
Glimmer took advantage of the creature being distracted, quickly grabbed the lantern and made a run for the altar. The Guardian saw her, let out a roar and tried to go after her. But suddenly an arrow struck it in the side and exploded, it looked to see Bow running and firing explosive arrow after explosive arrow. The Guardian lunged at Bow to grab him in his jaw, but he leaped out of the way just in time but hit the ground. The beast was ready to devour its prey but out of nowhere rockets flew in and struck it in the side of its head and looked to see Rook, who converted his Proto-Tool into a blaster and fired rapid fire laser shots as he ran drawing its attention.
The Guardian became more enraged and slithered after him. "Bow manoeuvre seven like we practiced!" Rook called and Bow nodded knowing what he meant he quickly drew another three arrows, he fired two at the monster hitting it in the back turning its gaze back to him. Quickly Bow fired the third arrow but he aimed it at Rook. Timing his movements carefully the young Plumber caught the arrow in his hand, turned his Proto Tool into a Proto Bow and fired it at the Monsters side, the impact zapped the beast full of electricity causing it to roar in pain and open its mouth.
The master archer pressed his advantage and fired another arrow, its tip released and fired goop all over the monsters face trapping its jaw.
"Batter up!" Omni-Kix Humungousaur yelled as She-Ra made a running start and then jumped into the Vaxasaurian's palm who threw her towards the Guardian, she then changed her sword into a large banner and wrapped it around its face and tried to pull on it like reins on a horse. The Guardian struggled to break free.
"Now Ben!" She-Ra called and pressing their attack Omni-Kix Humungousaur doubled in size and rammed right into the beasts side and restrained it in his grip, slamming it into the wall.
The beast slammed its tail into the ground over and over again trying to free itself. Glimmer meanwhile had finally made it up the stairs to the Altar, but looked to the battle and saw the monster gave a great roar, it shook She-Ra off its head sending her crashing into Bow then swung its head round and slammed it into Omni-Kix Humungousaur shattering the solidified goop in its mouth. Rook quickly fired an energy line and lashed it round its head, and tried to pull it back. He growled with all his might but the beast just raised its head and pulled Rook off his feet and swung him around and around until it finally slammed him into the wall and he collapsed in front of She-Ra and Bow.
"Rook!" Bow exclaimed as Glimmer looked in horror. The Guardian was ready to deliver the final blow and slammed its head down. The group closed their eyes waiting for the end, but nothing happened and when they looked up they saw Omni-Kix Humungousaur holding the beasts jaw with his enhanced strength.
"You…will…not hurt my friends!" the armoured alien growled as the beast kept pushing down to try and crush him, but as it did energy started building up in his spines and glowed bright green. Then in one push, Omni-Kix Humungousaur let out a mighty roar that unleashed a powerful energy beam from his mouth blasting the Guardian back, and slammed into the ground.
They were all completely startled by what happened. "Whoa." Omni-Kix Humungosaur breathed but sadly even that didn't stop the Bright Moon Guardian as it got back up again and loomed over its prey.
The armoured Vaxasaurian readied himself for a fight and stood in front of his friends. The beast roared and was about to attack but then.
"Hey! Over here!" It turned its gaze towards Glimmer who stood firm as she held the lantern in her hand.
The beast roared and charged towards her. "Glimmer!" Bow exclaimed.
"Run!" She-Ra and Humungosaur yelled.
"What are you doing?!" Rook exclaimed. The Guardian drew closer and closer to its prey, but Glimmer didn't move an inch, she wasn't afraid.
"No." She said defiantly. "I'm Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon, and you will leave my friends alone."
Without another word she slammed the lantern into the altar and suddenly the whole room was engulfed in a bright white light, blinding the monster and everyone in the room. On the surface the Moonstone itself pulsed and sent out a beacon of light into the skies above Bright Moon.
The Chamber of Queens was now illuminated in a bright pink light much to everyones amazement with sparkles floating all around them. The guardian was now no longer feral but more calm.
The sparkles then gathered towards Glimmer and was now surrounded in a bright pink aura and when she opened her eyes they glowed white and she ascended into the air, as blue energy surrounded her like waves and then appeared on her back as she burst out in energy and those waves had become wings, wings similar to her mother.
She-Ra, Omni-Kix Humungosaur, Bow and Rook shielded their eyes from the ever brightening glow while the beast remained in place. Eventually the glow subsided and Glimmer floated back down to the floor. She looked at the calmed Guardian and after a moment it bowed its head and then slithered away.
"Glimmer?"
She gasped she knew that voice from anywhere she turned and saw standing on the alter, was a projection of her mother. Angella. Everyone in the room couldn't believe it.
"Mom!" Glimmer breathed trying to hold back her tears.
"Glimmer, You are walking in the footsteps of all those who have come before us." Angella's projection told her as she stepped up to the altar. "Now, my darling, it's your turn." Glimmer reached for her hand but it passed through it, it was just a projection. "I wish I didn't have to leave you. But I know you will be all right. Because you are Glimmer, and you are so, so strong." The projection had tears in her eyes as did Glimmer but then a hand touched hers and she looked to see, She-Ra, Bow, Rook and Omni-Kix Humungousaur right at her side. "I have done my best to prepare you to rule, but you were always ready to lead. I am so proud of you, Glimmer. I love you."
Then the projection disappeared back into the lantern and a ball of light emerged from it and floated up into the ether. The quest was all but complete.
"I love you too mom." Glimmer breathed.
"She was right you know." Rook said as she looked to him. "You are ready to lead, you have always been ready to lead and there is no one I would rather follow more." Then Rook bowed in respect to the new Queen. "Your majesty."
It wasn't long until, She-Ra, Bow and Omni-Kix Humungousaur bowed as well and Glimmer looked to them with tears and a warm smile and as they rose they all shared a group hug. After a minute they broke the hug and looked at the new Queen.
"You okay, Your Majesty?" Bow asked.
"As long as you four are with me, I am." Glimmer said to them.
"Well we're not going anywhere Glims." The armoured alien said. "We're with ya till the end of the line."
Queen Glimmer smiled at that notion. "Now come on, let's get out of here." She pulled everyone together in a hug and then her powers charged up and teleported out of the chamber.
On the surface Perfuma and everyone else were organising everything and then suddenly they all gasped seeing the Moonstone shimmer in the night sky and appearing from it were the newly christened Queen Glimmer, She-Ra, Bow, Rook and Omni-Kix Humungosuar who dropped from the stone and down onto the platform. In that moment the Omnitrix beeped and reverted the armoured alien back to Ben as he and the others bowed as Glimmer landed on the platform.
When she looked ahead however, she gasped for in the throne room were all the guests and banners hanging with the Bright Moon crest hanging from the ceiling. Flower banners were hanging from the walls beautifully arranged but what warmed Glimmers heat most of all were the two giant ice statues in the room they were of her and her mother holding hands and smiling.
"This place looks amazing!" Glimmer gasped wiping away her tears and looked to her friends in their Princess Prom attire.
"We wanted it to be perfect for you." Frosta told her with a smile.
"So we worked together to finish." Perfuma added.
"That was my idea." Mermista added.
"And Glimmer we just wanted to say we are sorry for what happened to your mom." Spinerella told her.
"Yeah she was a great queen a leader and a hero to the end." Nettossa smiled warmly.
"And just know that no matter what comes next we got ya back all the way." Frosta added.
"Absolutely." Sea Hawk cheered before he bowed. "Your highness."
Ben smiled warmly seemed his little speech had gotten them to work together, and She-Ra then stood next to him. "I owe you an apology for earlier Ben." She said to him. "You were right."
"In a way we were both right." Ben smiled before he felt his scar. "And I guess, I'm the one who should be saying sorry I was a bit of a jerk. I guess you weren't the only one carrying some guilt over Angella's loss."
"Hey you said so yourself, its time we stopped taking the blame for the decisions of others." She-Ra told him. "And we'll remember those we lost by going on in their names."
The bearer of the Omnitrix nodded at that sentiment and at that moment Castaspella appeared behind her niece. "Glimmer." She said getting her attention and stepped aside to reveal the throne before her. "It's time."
Glimmer was rather nervous and intimidated but her friends stood behind her with assuring smiles, as She-Ra and Ben nodded.
"Go on, be great." Ben whispered to her and so she stepped towards the throne and those around her nodded in admiration and warm smiles. She approached the steps before the throne and with a warm smile she began her ascension and soon arrived at the throne itself. She turned to face the crowds that comprised of everyone from the kingdoms of Etheria, The Princess Alliance, the council of Mystacor, even Lance and George were present to see their sons best friends coronation.
She took a deep breath and began her speech. "I'm here today because Queen Angella, my mother, sacrificed herself to save Etheria." She began and everyone listened intently to their new leader. "We can't let her bravery be in vain. But there's so much we still need to do. Hordak is still in power, and we know there's an even larger Horde army out there somewhere." We can't let them win. It's time for us to take back our home. Together we will push out the Horde, once and for all!" She proclaimed before she yelled out. "FOR ETHERIA AND ITS PEOPLE!"
"FOR ETHERIA AND ITS PEOPLE!" The crowds cheered the princesses cheered and Swift Wind neighed in delight.
She-Ra had tears of joy in her eyes as did Ben and were suddenly pulled into a hug by Bow and Rook joined in as they all laughed with joy and pride. Glimmer stood on her throne and looked out at all her friends and subjects. Today was a new beginning for the Rebellion and she looked to the statue of her mom with a smile knowing she would do everything she could to do her mom proud and to finish the fight.
The Fright Zone:
In the Fright Zone Hordak stormed into his throne room and climbed the steps, however instead of finding an empty throne, he found Catra sitting in it purring and looking at her nails. He gasped in pure rage.
She was now sporting a new look, she now wore a maroon red leotard with a black shrug top with a stand up collar, the top is sleeveless on the left while long sleeves on the right with a red diamond resting on her shoulder and it was a sleeveless fingerless glove and an elbow length fingerless glove on her left arm in the same colour. There's now a small diamond shaped opening revealing the mid section of her chest and wore a v shaped black belt. Her lower body now had thigh length san tight burgundy pants that attached at the inner thigh by black stirrup leggings.
"Hey, Hordak." Catra smirked smugly.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hordak growled then out of nowhere Catra pulled down on some cables causing the lights to flicker and the whole room went dark before the alarms sounded with red light blaring and Catra smirking evilly. Then after a blink later she was gone much to Hordaks surprise, he looked around on the alert then suddenly Catra leapt onto him and as he struggled to throw him off the feline Force Captain ripped the First Ones tech chip out of his collar and pushed her master to the floor.
She landed gracefully with the chip in hand on the throne arm. Hordak got back to his feet with his armour sparking with energy and a very enraged look. This lesser being dared to assault him.
"How dare you." He breathed in anger he tried to attack but the shocks of electricity made him cry out in pain and forced him down to the ground.
"Missing something?" Catra smugly asked and tossed the chip around like a coin. "Looks like you're ready to listen."
Hordak tried to lunge at her again but the electro shocks caused him more pain without the chip, he was rendered helpless on the ground. "When I finish with you…"
However all Catra could do was laugh in a sickening way before she addressed her weakened master. "Hey, cheer up, boss. You said it yourself. Big, bad Horde Prime got your signal. Don't you want to conquer Etheria before he gets here?" Though enraged Hordak realised that his traitorous Force Captain had a point his master was on his way and he would arrive to a world thats fighting back against him. "He doesn't sound like the type to accept failure."
So begrudgingly he decided to listen. "What do you want?"
Catra sat down on the throne and addressed him. "We're done with your little vanity projects. It's time to crush the Rebellion, for good. And you're going to help me do that." Catra said as she dropped the First Ones chip and Hordak didn't hesitate to pick it up.
"This is a new age for the Horde, no more magic tricks, false promises or traitors we will rise up and claim what rightfully belongs to us, there no holding back and no-one to deny this planet! She-Ra, Tennyson and every member of the Rebellion will beg for our mercy as we take our rightful place under my vision and leadership! Our victory will be assured. No matter the cost!" Catra said scratching the throne voicing her convictions and Hordak began to realise her point not that he had a choice in the matter.
"I think you and I are going to do great things together." Catra smirked and crossed her legs, the balance of power in the Horde had finally shifted to her.
Bright Moon:
The night went on with the coronation celebrations taking place, but as night crawled further in it was time for everyone to return home and turn in for the night for tomorrow the fight to free Etheria would Rook requested that Adora, Glimmer, Bow and Ben would meet him in one of the gardens, though he didn't say why.
"Why do you think Rook wanted us to come here?" Glimmer asked.
"No clue?" Ben shrugged.
"Yeah now I think about it he's been acting strange before we set out on the quest?" Bow wondered.
"Really why?" Adora asked.
"Because." Everyone jumped in fright and saw Rook was standing behind them. "I have learned it is the best way to keep a secret."
"Geeze dude give us a heart attack why don't ya!" Ben breathed.
"Yeah you know its rude to scare a queen?!" Queen Glimmer agreed.
"Rook what is going on?" Adora asked.
"Why explain when I can show you." Rook explained. "But first, I must request that Glimmer close her eyes."
Glimmer looked a little weirded out by his request with a raised eyebrow. "It is a coronation surprise." He then said.
So Queen Glimmer went along and closed her eyes. The rest of the group were still confused about what Rook wanted to show her, who gestured for them to follow him, so holding her hands Adora and Bow lead Glimmer across the gardens.
It was a rather long trek but they soon arrived at a large circle of flowers in a stone gazebo. "Can I open them yet?" Glimmer asked.
"Not to worry we are almost there." Rook assured her with a chuckle, and soon they arrived, and the young Plumber went over to something and a light shined. This surprised Ben, Adora and Bow and bore warm smiles on their faces.
"Now can I open them?" Glimmer asked again.
"Alright…now." Rook told her, and the moment she opened her eyes. She gasped with emotional tears building up in her eyes.
For before her was a hologram of Queen Angella herself standing on a platform surrounded by her favourite flowers and a pool of water. Some flowers were hanging from nets in the gazebo. On the platform the hologram was on stood a stone plaque and it read.
Queen Angella, A leader, A mother and A hero to the end.
"Oh…R..Rook, h how did…" Glimmer said on the verge of tears.
"I realise that Etheria has its own ways of remembering departed loved ones, but I thought you would like this." Rook explained. "In the Plumber Academies they all have a hall of remembrance commemorating the Plumber officers and agents that gave their lives in defence of their sectors. Each one has a remembrance hologram lit in their honour and so with help from some photos from Bens birthday I generated a hologram for her."
Rook stood next to his friends. "This way we can remember Angella as she was."
Glimmer was completely speechless, and didn't know what to say with her eyes full of tears she pulled Rook into a hug which he happily returned. "I…its perfect, thank you." She breathed in happiness, and it wasn't long before Ben, Bow and Adora joined her in their hug to remember their lost comrade and promise to carry on her memory as they fight to free Etheria from the Hordes clutches.
Plumber Headquarters: Earths Orbit:
Max Tennyson entered the main control room of Plumber head quarters completely exhausted. "Let me guess another tough meeting with the Magistrata?" Magister Patelliday asked him.
Max just sighed. "Yes, I just finished explaining the situation regarding Ben, Despondos and Etheria but she's still skeptical about assembling a strike force to send to a shadow dimension."
"Well can ya blame her Max, you heard Paradox if you enter Despondos you never come out again." Patelliday reminded him.
"Did someone call?" They gasped as they saw Professor Paradox standing behind them.
"Must you always do that?" Max questioned. "I see why Kevin finds it annoying."
"Ah yes my apologies gentlemen but Maxwell do you mind if we speak in private?" Paradox said to him.
"Of course." Max nodded.
The two of them were now in the base's living quarters to discuss recent events. "I'm still reeling from it all Paradox, that alternate reality I still remember all of it, and how Ben and Rook never went on that mission at all. But i...it wasn't real."
"Ah yes Chronal backlash effect it tends to linger." Paradox explained.
"Even so I've explained the situation of Etheria to the Magistrata and of the Forgotten Zone, but she's still skeptical on it, all she has is my word to go on without any proof!" Max vented his frustration. "What doesn't she understand she commissioned the mission to begin with if Ben needs help we need to be ready if a war is coming!"
"I do understand your frustration Max Tennyson, but a war is coming, and soon Ben and Adora will need help." Professor Paradox explained. "I have been gathering clues to the threat they face and its destroying its way to Etheria as we speak, we must be ready for the worst."
"I know." Max voiced. "Perhaps you might help me make my case to the Magistrata to ready a strike force."
"I will do what I can." Paradox smiled. "Now onto a new matter how is our patient doing?"
The scene changes to the Plumber HQ medical bay, and the two soon arrived at an observation ward and looked into it via an observation window. "When you brought her here she had oxygen starvation, but with some top medical care she should make a full recovery and wake up in a few days." Max explained.
"Ah very good." Paradox said.
"But Paradox, who exactly is she?" Max asked him.
"She's someone from the planet our friends are currently on." Paradox explained. "The fates had other plans for her to be stranded in a void forever, but when your someone like me some cosmic rules are meant to be broken." They looked into the room. "She still has a lot to do, before this trial is over and a lesson that must be learned."
The person in question lay in a hospital bed hooked up to a heart monitor to monitor her vitals and it showed she had a strong pulse, and she wore an oxygen mask to help her breath. and there were some cloth covered tables in place on both sides of the bed and on them were pearl white wings and they were on the patient herself.
The patient, was Angella.
Authors Notes: A...nd scene! Whew another long chapter but I hope it was well worth the wait, and now Glimmer is the new Queen of Bright Moon and now Catra has full power in the Horde but is still descending down into darkness on the path she travels. Now to address some questions from the reviews. How does Hordak know about the Celestialsapiens, well remember he was once from the known universe so even someone as powerful as Horde Prime would know about the Celestialsapiens and their abilities and further reasons will come later in the story. And I hope the little surprise I've left at the end helps establish what's to come in later chapters.
Now I felt in this chapter Ben should address the whole trying to make things perfect for Glimmers Coronation instead of focusing on Glimmer herself and her grief, as that was a part of the episode that really got to me so I decided to address it.
And now onto the next chapter where our heroes return to the wastes to recover a certain ship and who knows maybe even someone new.
So until next time. FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!
