The Last She-Ra
"This is former She-Ra wielder Mara, this is a message to all First Ones…
I know you will not believe me but what I do is for the safety of everyone…
The council lied to you…. The Heart of Etheria is not helping the world, it is…
collapse… Sealing the magic of this world has caused an…
everything… All six have been… And I'm ending this once and for all… Please… I'm sorry, Razz."
The members of the Alliance watched the last message from Mara on loop, trying to find out more than what they had seen. They noted her pained expression of regret and her downtrodden composition. She must've been in a tough battle before making the recording. Entrapta worked on trying to decode the rest of the message, but there was little to nothing that could be improved upon. So, they kept on replaying the message over and over to find some clue that could give them a lead. But no matter how many times they replayed it, the only clue they had about the secret weapon of the First Ones only pointed to a single individual.
"Razz, you guys think it could be the same Madame Razz we met when we first got to Brightmoon?" Catra asked.
"I mean, that shouldn't be possible." Izuku looked down in thought. "This recording is a thousand years old. Anyone that's mentioned in it should be long dead. Unless there's a way to gain immortality?" Izuku turned to Glimmer, who only shrugged.
"I'm still pretty new at magic, so, it's anyone's guess," Glimmer said.
"So let's assume that the crazy old lady that lives in the woods is actually over a thousand years old and knew Mara back in the day, then how does that help us?" Catra asked. "She didn't exactly have all the screws on tight." She pointed to her head.
"Maybe she kept something from the Last She-Ra, a token or a book or something?" Adora suggested.
"No offense, but how would something last so long and not be completely destroyed." Netossa asked.
"These files survived!" Entrapta popped up using her hair. "Though they are old. But they still work."
"Regardless, we should at least look for her and find out what she knows." Spinnerella suggested. "If she has something that can help us learn more about the Heart of Etheria and these 'six' the recording was talking about."
"So, where is the hippie old lady?" Mermista asked.
"She could be living in some hut in the middle of a swamp!" Frosta's eyes lit up with stars.
"But there aren't any swamps nearby, Frsota," Perfuma said. "Maybe she's living inside a large tree somewhere in the Whispering Woods. Communing with nature like a wise old mentor." Perfuma pressed her hands together, imagining the old lady as one with nature.
"There aren't that many tall trees, Perfuma," Bow said. "A hut would be the best place to look for."
"Adora, you saw her last time, right?" Lonnie asked. "Any ideas where she might be? Or what she was doing?"
Adora looked back in thought. She remembered what the old woman was doing when they crossed paths.
"Picking berries." Adora sighed. "She said she needed them to make pie, whatever that is."
"It's a type of cake, Adora," Catra replied. "And she was also doing that back when we met her ages ago." Catra pointed out.
"Feels like it was over three years ago." Izuku thought out loud.
"Well, it's the best thing we've got." Glimmer turned to her friends. "Izuku, Catra and Adora, you three had run-ins with Madame Razz, go find her and see what you can find out from her. Entrapta, keep working on the files, I want to know what else is in them. Bow, you're with me, Netossa and Spinnerella. We need to know what movements the Horde is planning in the meantime. Mermista, Frosta, Perfuma, head to your kingdoms and see if you can free any other towns and villages that the Horde has neglected." She instructed her friends and allies like a true queen.
"And what about me?" Lonnie asked.
"Oh, right, Lonnie, um," Glimmer said. "Go help Izuku, Catra and Adora."
Lonnie shrugged, not seeing anything wrong with the queen's orders. If anything, it gave her time to get back into the groove with Izuku and Catra. She knew she didn't have as good or as close a relationship with them as Adora did, but a part of her always felt guilty of not paying them enough attention or hanging out with them. They just seemed inseparable enough that a fourth member just stood out like a sore thumb. The idea of them hanging out now was something that could lead to more.
"Sounds good to me," Lonnie said.
"Great, let's go," Izuku added with Catra and Adora nodding in agreement.
As the groups went off to their respective tasks, Glimmer and her group remained in the war room pouring over all the information that they had gathered on the Horde's movements. According to their scouts, the Horde had been doing the same thing over the course of the last few weeks, moving their supplies and heavier artillery to the Black Pyramid in the Crimson Waste.
"So far it seems like Hodak is trying to make the Black Pyramid into a secondary base of operations." Netossa pointed out. "All the pieces of First Ones tech and resources that he's been moving there seem to point to him moving house."
"You think he'll leave the Fright Zone defenseless?" Glimmer asked.
"It would be too risky." Spinnerella pulled a drawing of the Black Garnet. "The Fightzone's Runestone is too valuable a resource to just leave out for us to recapture."
"He'll probably try to hold both points which will split his focus and give us a chance to recapture one of them," Netossa said.
"If we have our pick, I say we try to capture either the pyramid or the Fright Zone." Bow suggested. "But our knowledge of both spots is limited, so we'd need someone to give us an idea of what we need to look out for."
"Toshinori could tell us plenty of the Crimson Waste, but we know nothing about the Black Pyramid, and a frontal assault against it isn't an option." Glimmer tapped her chin, thinking of what to do next. "That means our best choice would have to be the Frightzone, we could ask Adora and her friends to tell us where to attack and where to sneak in. They do have intimate knowledge of the place. But…"
"They could've changed since they left," Bow finished.
No matter how many times they looked at it, the truth was staring them in the face. The Alliance was woefully unknowledgeable about the Fright Zone and the Horde's operations inside its borders. Sure, they had old maps and council from their friends and allies that had spent time there. But the inner workings of the whole thing were a mystery that scratched at the back of their minds like a pest that wanted into their home. Sending spies would be their best choice, but with how quickly Hordak and Modulock were moving their forces, they would be cut short in terms of information. If only they could get their hands on someone that had intimate knowledge of the Frisghtzone's inner workings, they could mount a strike once they had all the information they needed. But that left them with only one course of action.
Just then, a soldier entered the war room, gaining the attention of everyone inside.
"Forgive me, your highness, but the prisoner wants to speak with you." The guard bowed her head to Glimmer.
"And by the prisoner, you don't mean Lady Nagant, do you?" Glimmer asked.
"No, the other prisoner in the spare room." The guard clarified.
"I thought we agreed to call it a makeshift dungeon," Bow whispered.
Glimmer sighed.
"I guess we have our source on the inside." Netossa cracked her knuckles.
Yes, it was time to talk to the only other being alive that knew how the Frightzone and its bureaucracy worked. And none of them were all too pleased about the fact that she was currently under lock and key in Brightmoon of all places.
"Let's see what she has to say." Glimmer and the rest of the group made their way out of the war room.
Glimmer's emotions towards Shadow Weaver were not as complicated or complex as one might assume. Shadow Weaver had manipulated her father into learning dark magic, stoking the fires of competition between him and Shigaraki, tried to kill her aunt, tortured and abused Izuku, Catra and countless other children, and had tried to kill them on more than one occasion for her own ambitions. In short, Glimmer hated her. Whatever she had to say, she would take with a grain of salt, because that was the reasonable thing to do.
The group entered Shadow Weaver's makeshift prison.
"Well, I see you got my message, your majesty." Shadow Weaver put down the book she was reading. "What an honor."
Back with Izuku, Catra, Adora and Lonnie, they were looking for the mysterious Madame Razz over every bush and behind every tree that they found. Even Melog was sniffing out any trace of the old woman, but they were met with no more than a few wild animals that ran off as soon as they spotted them. It wasn't exactly the easiest search that they could have had.
"Anything?" Adora asked.
"Nothing," Lonnie sighed. "How don't you guys not get lost in this maze of trees? They all look the same!"
"It's called paying attention to your surroundings." Catra dropped down from one of the trees, landing before the girls. "These trees are hard to navigate at first but they are the best defense against any invading forces. Just look for the differences that help lead the way. But yeah, you two make some valid points."
"The Whispering Woods have kept the Horde for the entirety of the war, someone hiding in this dense magical forest isn't hard to envision." Izuku poked behind a bush full of berries. "No wonder no one has ever seen Madame Razz more than once or twice all this time." Izuku walked up to the girls, while getting some leaves off of him.
"Still, an old lady being over a thousand years of age?" Lonni said not believing what she'd said. "I mean, I've heard of old people looking ancient but never to that extent. Heck, I don't think Shadow Weaver is that old and she's been around for who knows how long."
"Worst part is knowing that the damn witch is currently our one and only prisoner back at Brightmoon." Catra pushed back the urge to slash something at the reminder of that woman.
The four former Horde members all groaned and shivered at the thought of that woman. Each and every single one of them had terrible memories about her and the last thing they wanted was to remember that she was someone that had lived for a long time. It was the one thing that they could all agree on. That woman had hurt them and used them for her own ambitions and never truly cared about them at all. They were just pawns that she could use at a whim.
"Still surprised that you didn't decapitate her when you had the chance," Lonnie said. "I mean, you had a sword aimed at her chest and a chance to swing at her head all at the same time. And you didn't take either of them?"
"Trust me, the temptation was and is still there." Catra tapped the butt of her sword. "But we needed her alive, now it's up to Glimmer on whether she gets to keep her head or if she becomes a scarecrow."
Adora looked away, remembering what she'd done because of Shadow Weaver's words and influence. She'd apologized before, several times, but it still felt like she had to make up for all those years she had abandoned them. It was the rock that weighed the most in her heart and soul. Finding Razz was the least she could do for them. Looking up a tree, she smirked at a higher vantage point to look for. She started climbing up to the top of the tree, as Izuku watched her.
"Adora, the forest is too thick from above, it'll be hard to spot a hut that's underneath it all." Izuku jumped up to meet her.
"Maybe, but if I can spot a smoke sign, then maybe I can find something that could tell us where to go." Adora kept climbing up the tree, grabbing on to the branches. "This way, we can better track her. If she has answers for all of us then we have to find her." One of the branches snapped, and Izuku caught her by the arm.
"I know you want answers, but we can't rush into things." Izuku helped her down. "You don't need to get answers for us. We all want answers, but we have to work for them. And sometimes that means patience." Izuku held Adora by her shoulders. "Believe me, I want to stop the Horde as much as you do, but you can't rush these things."
Adora looked away, understanding what he meant to say about that. But she wasn't just referring to stopping the Horde.
"You do know that Adora wants to make up for all the years she wasn't with us too, right?" Catra pulled Izuku back. "Even though we've forgiven her like a hundred times already."
"Yeah, but Adora is too stubborn until she makes up for things." Lonnie did the same with Adora, getting her to blush. "But don't take it too seriously. Or else, she will double down."
"Wouldn't that mean we should take it seriously?" Izuku asked.
"We could always knock her out if she does go overboard," Catra shrugged.
"Catra!" Izuku snapped. "We're not giving her a concussion to calm her down. Adora will make her own decisions without the need of harming herself to the point of exhaustion."
All three girls looked at him, wondering if he knew what he had just said.
It quickly dawned on him that he'd do the exact same thing if he'd done something wrong. He'd done it before back when they had met their dad and he dove deep into their training to master the martial art that Toshinori had wanted to pass down onto him. It was definitely a pot meet kettle moment. He looked down in shame, knowing how hypocritical it sounded of him to call her out on something he was also guilty of.
"There, there, I still love you the way you are." Catra patted his head, calming him down. "How about we have some fun after finding Razz~? Will that make you feel better~? I can get the girls to join us, it's been a while~." She whispered into his ear.
"Um, you know we're here too, right?" Adora blushed.
"Hey, don't let that stop you. I wanna know all the details~." Lonnie smirked. "When you say others, you mean-?"
"The other princesses, yeah." Catra admitted, leaving Izuku and Adora's faces to turn beat red and their jaws to hit the floor like rocks falling from a clifftop.
"Wait… Are you telling me you've actually kissed all those babes?" Lonnie started to blush at the picture forming in her head.
"Well, yeah, among other things," Catra admitted.
"Catra! That's private!" Izuku snapped, wanting the earth to swallow him whole before anything else was said.
"What? It's literally the least kept secret in the whole castle. The only one that doesn't know is Glimmer's mom and that's because she wants to tell her herself." Catra shrugged. "So, yeah, we have an open/harem relationship with most of the princesses in the Alliance. And yes, that includes Glimmer, Netossa and Spinnerella."
Adora and Lonnie didn't know what to make of it. Their minds quickly conjured up the image of Izuku and Catra having sex like a couple of horny teenagers before being joined in by the other women leading the Alliance. They imagined different positions, dirty talk and their sweaty bouncing bodies making out and unleashing the pent up desires that they had all accumulated after a long day of working and fighting for Etheria's freedom. Adora had already gotten the image of Izuku and Catra making love burnt into her mind, but to add the other attractive women of the Alliance was making her mind turn pure white from all the steamy images that she was imagining. Lonnie wasn't faring any better as her mind pictured all those toned and curvy bodies bouncing and fucking like animals in need to procreate like they were all in heat.
The two Horde girls were in a state of complete arousal at the idea and the images that danced inside their minds like a devil on their shoulder. They were so caught up on their mind that they pictured themselves amongst the carnal dance of bodies. Their overactive imaginations made them feel everything, from the softest kiss to the deepest thrust into their most intimate body parts. Suffice to say that Adora had steam coming out of her ears and Lonnie was drooling from all the images.
"Um, I think I broke them," Catra said, noting the state the two girls were in.
"Oh man, I hope they aren't thinking anything bad about us," Izuku said.
Catra pointed to their blushing faces and Lonnie's growing pool of drool. She smirked at how she made them both look more than happy to worship her sexual skills. It was a win that she was more than okay with. Plus, she knew that it made them more than willing to experiment and follow their own desires. But that wasn't here nor there.
"...Still, we can't leave them like this." Izuku walked up to the girls. "Adora, Lonnie, are you two okay-?"
"Where do we sign?!" Adora snapped, making everyone else jump back. "I-I-I mean, what's Melog doing?!"
Everyone turned to see Melog following a trail of berries that they had escaped their notice.
"Let's follow it!" Adora rushed after Melog, leaving the rest pondering her reaction.
"Wow, didn't think Adora would be that thirsty." Catra blushed slightly. "Guess my teasing went too far, or her mind is a lot dirtier than mine."
"I can safely say that it can be both, but I wanna think Adora has a naughty side she needs to explore more of," Loonie added. "What do you think, Izuku?" She turned to the blushing green hero, who did the only thing his mind could think of.
"They're getting away, after them!" Izuku used OFA to run after Adora and Melog.
"Oh yeah, he likes the idea." Catra smirked. "Let's follow them."
Back at Brightmoon, Glimmer glared holes into Shadow Weaver's very soul as the witch got up from her comfortable chair. Part of her really wanted to put the witch's head on a spike for all the pain she had put her and those she loved through. But they needed her alive. Even inside a larger containment circle that included a bath, a bed, a desk and a couple books, Shadow Weaver acted like she was on an extended vacation instead of a prison. Which was fine by Glimmer given the witch didn't give her a reason to give her a shock collar.
"I wasn't expecting you to bring an entourage," Shadow Weaver said. "But I suppose as a queen you need to keep up certain frivolities. Though, I expected you to have Izuku and Catra glued to your hips." She snided, much to Glimmer's already brittle patience with her.
"You asked to speak to me, Shadow Weaver, so talk." Glimmer crossed her arms over her chest.
"We're guessing that you have information you want to bargain with in exchange for something, don't you?" Netossa asked.
"Ah, the head general of the Alliance. I often wondered who's the bright mind behind some of the Alliance's biggest blunders." Shadow Weaver watched her nails. "Guess I've got my answer."
Netossa was very tempted to gag that witch, but her wife placed her hand on her shoulder calming her down.
"If you want to insult my friends and allies then you're just wasting your time, and mine." Glimmer turned to leave. "Bye."
"Then I suppose you don't want the information I have on the Frightzone and how we can bring it to heel before Hordak and Modulock even notice," Shadow Weaver said, smirking behind her mask.
Glimmer stopped on her retreat, knowing fully well that the witch wanted to play games with her. And she was not in the mood to do so with the person she hated.
"And you want to give us this information out of the goodness of your heart?" Glimmer asked.
"Because, that would be great." Bow added.
"Don't be foolish, boy. Why do you keep him around?" Shadow Weaver asked, getting under Glimmer's skin.
"Let's get one thing straight, Shadow Weaver, you are not our ally, you are not a member of the court, you are a prisoner who's being treated much nicer than they should. This cell is a privilege and if you make any more allegations or comments like that against my friends, the circle will get smaller." Glimmer's hands grew bright pink. "Now, start talking."
Shadow Weaver, for all her power and stations of authority, was not the least bit angered by Glimmer's words. She saw a good portion of Micha's overly powerful potential in her eyes as well as her mother's strict and dangerous force of will. Oh, how she would've loved to have been her mentor to show her what she could truly do. But that was now only a dream since Glimmer had no desire to learn from her or even have a connection with her. The title of aunt would be, sadly, forever linked to the half-sorceress Castaspella. But she'd done more with less.
"As your majesty commands." Shadow Weaver bowed. "I take it that you're planning on what to do next while Hordak and Modulock are moving their pieces on the board. If you wish to strike at where it hurts them the most, which I would applaud you for, you'll need all the information I have about the Horde's movements within the Frisghtzone."
"In exchange for what exactly?" Spinnerella asked.
"If it's your freedom, then you'll be sorely disappointed." Glimmer stood firm.
"Don't be foolish, your highness. I am well aware that this prison of mine is the only thing standing between a magicless sorceress like myself and every single soldier, victim and assassin that wants to make me suffer for my time in the Horde," Shadow Weaver said. "I hardly wish to end my life being chased by an angry mob or being tortured in more colorful means. All I ask in return is to allow some visiting hours."
"Visiting hours?" Glimmer raised an eyebrow at the witch. "I can't imagine anyone wanting to visit you for any other reason than to viciously murder you if given the chance."
"Oh, I do not want Izuku and Catra to come visit little old me," Shadow Weaver replied.
"Not that they would want to." Glimmer muttered.
"No, I want to see Adora." Shadow Weaver sat down on her chair. "One visit and every secret will be yours. Hardly a nefarious Faustian deal."
Glimmer, Netossa, Spinnerella and Bow shared a concerned look between themselves. It was one thing to ask for more freedom, or for something that the prisoner was lacking, but to ask to speak to someone no one had told her was in Brightmoon was another. They all looked at the witch, expecting her to have some kind of plan or reason for knowing of the arrival of Adora into the Alliance.
"You didn't seriously think you could keep her stay here a secret from me, did you?" Shadow Weaver asked with a mocking tone. "That girl and I share a bond that can't be broken so easily by distance or magic barriers. I raised her after all."
"You scarred her and many more," Glimmer snarled, remembering her lovers' plight. "You and the Horde hurt them and conditioned them to be nothing but machines of war. And those that rebelled, you killed or punished. Why should I ever allow you to get near them?"
"Them?" Shadow Weaver raised an eyebrow behind her mask. "Oh, you think I care about Izuku and Catra? I don't need anything from them. Despite their current usefulness, I only want to talk to Adora. After that, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
"You know that there is a chance she won't want to talk to you, right?" Netossa asked. "You know, for almost killing her friends and never telling her?"
Shadow Weaver merely shrugged at that claim. It wasn't that she didn't think Adora would hold some resentment towards her, but she knew that girl better than anyone else. All she needed was bide her time before the pieces fell right in place. True, there was a chance that the more time she spent with Izuku and Catra, the less her influence would hold over her. But as soon as she learned that she wanted to talk to her, then she would come to her like the obedient soldier that she was. And maybe, just maybe, she could help her unlock all that power that she was linked to. All she'd need was a certain sword.
"You've heard my terms. But the longer you wait, the less likely of a chance you'll have to stop Hordak and Modulock from solidifying their stance." Shadow Weaver sat back on her chair before picking up her book. "Feel free to think it over. You know where I am."
Glimmer wanted to smack that mask off of her face just by her tone alone. But there was no way she'd give her the satisfaction. There had to be a better way to beat the Horde without getting Shadow Weaver's hand on it. She would not fall for the witch's tricks.
They turned to leave the cell as Shadow Weaver returned to her reading like it was another simple day of complete tranquility.
Back with the rest of the group, they were following the trail of berries that Melog was sniffing and eating like a glutton. Izuku and Catra grabbed the large cat, stopping her from eating more of the only trail they had on the reclusive woman they were looking for.
"No, Melog, you can't eat the berries." Catra pulled Melog back, only for her to growl. "I don't care if you like them. We need to follow the trail the old lady left for us."
"We promise to give you plenty of those after we talk to Madame Razz." Izuku helped Catra stop the large magical jungle cat. "We'll even throw in some grilled fish like the one you like."
"Are you trying to stop her or me?" Catra asked as Melog licked his face.
"You know, I can't help but find this strangely adorable. I mean, it's like having a giant pet." Lonnie and Adora caught up to the two friends before looking over at where they had stopped. "Looks like we're pretty deep in the forest."
"Yeah, I can't tell if we're close to the center or somewhere that no one wants to be found." Adora looked around the magical creatures that roamed around them, looking at them like strange plants that they had never once seen. "I think we might be the first humans the creatures here have seen in a long time."
"If that's the case, then they must think Madame Razz is one of them or something that's always been here." Catra turned to point to a small hut built between the trees of the Whispering Woods.
The small hut looked like a humble shack, made up of dark purple wood with only a small window by the side of a small door that would barely let the group pass if they ducked as they made their way inside. There was a small chimney poking out from the purple tiled roof, spewing smoke that seemed to dissipate and disappear into sparkles.
"No wonder no one saw smoke, it disappears as soon as it comes out." Adora pointed out. "But, how?"
"Magic," Izuku replied as the door started to open.
From inside the hut came Madame Razz, muttering to herself. She scratched her head as she looked around for something.
"There she is!" Lonnie and the gang rushed after the old woman.
"Where did I put those berries? I swear I had a basketful of it." Razz scratched her head before adjusting her glasses. "Did some of the dearies here ate them without me noticing? Oh, hello Mara dearie, green boy, kitty, Mara and um, tomboy?" She spotted the group coming up to her before she blinked. "Wait, two Maras? Funny glasses. Razz should get a new pair. Maybe something more stylish."
"Hello, Madame Razz, it's great to see you." Izuku shook Razz's hand. "And, um, we have a few questions that we need you to answer."
"Yeah, like why am I a tomboy? I mean, you're not wrong, but still." Lonnie huffed.
"I got a question, Greenie. Why are there two Maras?" Razz pointed between Catra and Adora. "I think my glasses need fixing. Or I need to drink more water."
"Razz, this is our friend Adora. Adora, this is Razz," Catra introduced.
"Yeah, we've sort of met." Adora shook Razz's hand. "We picked berries together."
"Oh that reminds me, I was baking a cake and I ran out of berries somehow," Razz said. "I don't know what happened to them. I put them in my basket and everything. But now, they're gone." Razz summoned her basket back to her hand, showing how it was empty.
The group looked at the basket, spotting a small hole at the bottom from where all the berries had rolled out. They then turned to Melog as it ate the berries that had fallen to the ground, licking her teeth.
"Um, how about we help you gather more berries and fix this basket and you answer a few of our questions?" Izuku suggested.
"Hm, okay, let me grab my stick." Razz handed Izuku the basket before she turned back to her home.
"We're picking berries? Are you serious?" Lonnie asked.
"She's an old lady that, if we're right, is thousands of years old. We gotta play the long game here." Catra crossed her arms. "Besides, she thinks me and Adora are Mara. She'll tell us anything we want if we get through to her."
"Are we not gonna question why she thinks we're the same?" Adora asked.
"Maybe age is catching up to her after so long," Catra shrugged as Madame Razz walked out with her staff. "Her basket had a hole and she didn't even notice it at all." Razz smacked Catra behind her head for that comment.
"Razz may be old but her hearing is as sharp as ever, Mara. You and your twin may be young and beautiful, but Razz still has some moves that'll make kitty there jealous." Razz chuckled. "Now, remember when we first talked about that pie when we first met?"
"Um, no, could you remind me, us?" Adora asked.
Razz laughed as she walked away. It was weird that she seemed to know more about what was going on than Mara. And that was especially weird when she seemed to believe she knew everything that was going on. She remembered how they met a long time ago. Though, sometimes it felt like it was just yesterday.
Razz was a little girl picking up berries not far from where her family used to live. She had just turned ten and was more than happy to help out gathering berries and other foods for her family and friends. She picked the berries gently just like how her mother had taught her, but she looked up, noticing that her basket was barely full. With a sneaky smile on her face, she casted a spell on the berries, making all the berries fly into her basket. She giggled at the sight of her basket.
Just then she felt the air turn and blow her hair back. Razz looked up to see one of the empire's ships landing not far from where she was. Her childish curiosity made her go after it, to see who was there and what they were doing. She hid behind some bushes as the large ship landed near the statue of She-Ra. The platform opened up, revealing a young woman with a proud look on her face and a sword strapped to her side. Razz recognised it immediately. It was the sword of She-Ra.
Her parents always told her that it was best to stay away from the members of the empire, especially those that held a high rank. But she couldn't understand why.
"Okay, this is designated She-Ra wielder Mara, touching down on her first cycle patrol of the Western quadrant." Mara pressed her communicator. "Showtime everyone."
Mara continued walking towards the large statue, pressing her hand on one of the crystals. Holographic projections appeared before her as she looked everything over.
"Hm, it seems everything is normal, but there was a small surge of magic recently." Mara hummed. "It was probably the sword coming out of the ship. Though, a look around won't hurt anyone." She looked around at the beauty of nature that was all around her.
Mara pulled herself from the statue and began looking at the trees and the few animals that surrounded her. Which was all that Razz needed to look inside her ship. Curiosity made her lean forward only for the branch she was holding onto to snap, revealing herself to Mara. She fell down and was met with Mara's sword.
"Who are you? Why were you spying on me?" Mara asked, not at all phased by seeing a little child.
"You came in one of the Empire's ships. I got curious." Razz shrugged. "Oh nuts, I spilled some of my berries."
"What?" Mara looked at Razz with curiosity. "Um, you know I have a sword, right?"
"Yeah, but, you're not gonna use it." Razz picked up the berries. "You have a good heart. I'm Razz by the way. What's your name?"
Mara just watched the child pick up the berries and put them in a basket. She'd heard from her superiors that those that lived in the edges were savages and unruly. But this girl just looked at her like she was just another girl like her. She lowered her sword only a little before she decided to make her next move.
"My name is-"
"Oh, what's in there?" Razz ran past Mara and quickly into her ship.
"Hey, wait!" Mara ran after Razz as she started looking over everything inside the ship.
Razz's eyes widened with wonder at the sight before her. The main cockpit of the ship was all silver white, with a single chair to control the whole ship. Surrounding the chair there were controls and a mini-fridge filled with lots of meals. She opened up one of the packages, sniffing what was inside. Her nose recoiled from the smell alone. Gagging at the smell that entered her nose, she threw the box away in disgust.
"Hey, that's my food!" Mara caught the box before putting it away.
"It smelled spoiled, I thought you'd thank me," Razz said as Mara picked her up and away from the fridge. "Mom says that if it smells really bad like a dead animal, you should throw it away." She dangled her legs as Mara dragged her away.
"Okay, so maybe it doesn't smell the best, but it's standard stuff for all the soldiers. Now, let's get you out before-" Mara began.
"Mara." Lighthope appeared, forcing Mara to hide Razz behind her. "My sensors detected a secondary lifeform inside the ship."
"Really? Well, um, nothing but me here," Mara said, hiding Razz. "I just checked everything and I think everything's good."
"Are you hiding someone behind yourself, Mara?" Lighthope raised an eyebrow.
Mara paled slightly at the insinuation that Lighthoope was making. If she screwed up now on something so basic, then she would be punished and most likely removed from her position within the Empire. She had to get the little girl out before anyone noticed her.
"Um, no." Mara shook her head.
"Your accelerated heartbeat and your perspiration are testaments to the contrary," Lighthope said in her cold voice. "I will have to r-r-r-r-reeeepppppp-reeee-rep-rererere!" Lighthope glitched, changing her form and projection before Mara's eyes.
Mara turned back to see Razz pointing a glowing finger at Lighthope, casting magic. She'd heard about how the wild people outside the empire wielded this kind of power with unbroken freedom and no control. But it was the first time she'd ever seen it with her own eyes. It was amazing and it made her heart soar with a leap.
"What-what was I doing?" Lighthope came back online.
"Um, you were about to give me the list of locations you wanted me to review and make sure that they are working properly," Mara lied as she hid Razz behind her once more.
"Oh, right. Very well, here are the coordinates of the locations. It should take you approximately three hours to check all the locations on your map." Lighthope uploaded the information into Mara's headpiece. "Do not stray from the path."
"I won't." Mara slowly made her way out of the ship before rushing out carrying Razz under her arm like a sack. "I can't believe I just lied to Lighthope. I can't believe how many rules I breaked, and all because of you!" She pulled Razz up to her face, glaring at her. "Do you have any idea of what will happen if they find out about this?"
"No," Razz replied.
Mara gritted her teeth at the young girl but eventually just let out a sigh of exhaustion. She couldn't be mad at a girl that was looking at her with such cute eyes. It was like looking at someone that saw the world in a much lighter way. In an innocent way that had yet to understand the way the world worked. Surprisingly, Mara didn't deal with children often and was easily swayed by Razz's innocence. She let out a sigh of defeat, putting the little girl down before pinching her nose.
"Look, um, sorry, I didn't get your name," Mara said.
"It's Razz, and you're Mara." Razz held up her basket. "Berry?"
"No, look, you need to go now. Before your magic does something weird and crazy." Mara turned to go away. "I don't want to get infected or something."
"What are you talking about? You're as much magic as me," Razz said, making Mara stop.
"What? No, I don't-I don't have any magic." Mara drew her sword. "The closest thing I've got is thanks to the sword and my people. I'm not like you."
"Mom and dad always say that magic is everywhere. We're all part of it and it is part of us." Razz started walking away. "Even those that forget who they are because of the Empire."
Mara looked up at the little girl wondering what she was talking about. She could use magic but wasn't doing anything wrong with it. All the records she'd studied had said magic users were dangerous and they were the product of an unruly part of the world that went against the Council and the Empire's will. Yet this girl, she was so innocent and treated her like a friend. Maybe she could learn more about the world around her and get a better understanding of the world as She-Ra if she talked to the people around her. Especially, since she was more open to conversation than the rest of the military.
"Say, um, Razz, would you mind giving me a hand with this?" Mara asked. "I need to check up on a few places and you seem to know a lot about this area. Please?" Mara gave Razz the best puppy dog eyes she could give her.
Razz turned her head to her side like a dog trying to understand what Mara was saying.
"Okay!" Razz replied. "But only if you help me pick up the berries I need."
"But the basket is full," Mara said.
Razz then ate a good chunk of the berries.
"Now you need to help." Razz smirked with berry stained teeth.
Mara covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Oh Razz," she laughed.
"Razz!"
Madame Razz shook her head as she was brought back to the present. She watched as the two Maras each had berries covering their faces.
"What happened to you two?" Razz asked.
"Could you tell Adora that I know the difference between berries? And she doesn't need to make me try to spit out what I know isn't a poisoned berry!" Catra growled.
"It looked way too much like the poisonous ones that were in the books!" Adora snapped. "Forgive me for trying to protect you!"
"Catra, Adora, please, no fighting." Izuku placed a hand on each of their shoulders, trying to calm them down. "Madame Razz, what is this place?" Izuku gestured to the large monument of She-Ra covered with overgrowth and the head collapsed next to it.
"It looks like someone didn't like She-Ra," Lonnie said. "These are sword marks. Someone cut this thing's head clean off." She traced her hand by the neck of the statue.
"Sword marks?" Catra pulled out her sword.
"This is where we first met, Mara. You were so uptight back then and you thought everything was trying to get you." Madame Razz laughed. "I'm surprised your hair didn't turn white sooner." Madame Razz patted Catra and Adora's heads.
"Is that a crack at the She-Ra transformation, or she is saying that you have a stick up your ass." Catra lightly shoved Adora.
"I do-" Adora began.
"Um, you were pretty rule oriented, Adora." Izuku winced.
"I can count on one hand the amount of times you've broken the rules." Lonnie added with a smirk.
"This isn't getting us anywhere," Adora said. "Madame Razz, did Mara ever mentioned, The Heart of Etheria?" She asked.
"The Heart of Etheria? Sounds like a music band," Madame Razz said. "But it does remind me of something. When did I-Oh yes! I have to duck!" Madame Razz ducked.
"Why?" Izuku asked, looking at the lack of danger around them.
Back in the past, Razz and Mara ducked as a large six-eyed warthog with large ivory tusks rushed at them.
"Stay back!" Mara unsheathed her sword. "Razz, get behind me."
"Wait, you don't have to-" Razz tried.
"I do. For the Honor of Grayskull!" Mara transformed herself into She-Ra.
Mara grew in size, her hair became golden blonde as her clothes assimilated into the classic She-Ra white uniform with added golden boots and bracelets. She held her sword tightly, glaring at the growling beast.
Mara rushed at the large beast swinging her sword against its large tusks. She was pushed back by the beast's great size and strength, forcing herself to dig her heels against the ground for support. The beast managed to push her back before running back at her with even more strength behind its charge. Mara transformed her sword into a shield, blocking the beast's charge and slowing it down to a halt with matching strength. She smirked before the beast's tusks hooked underneath her shield, tossing her high into the air.
The speed of the wind and the strength of the air surprised Mara. She'd never faced such a beast. But that didn't mean she was one to give up so easily. She transformed her shield into a whip, pulling herself back down to face the beast. Landing with a mighty thump, she charged at the beast. Her whip cracked the wind as it wrapped around the beast's tusk. Seeing her chance, she made her move. Mara slid down under the creature's massive size, pulling on the whip with all her might. The beast was flipped face first into the air before falling on its back.
But that wasn't going to stop it. It got back to its feet before letting out a mighty roar against Mara. She narrowed her eyes as her weapon returned to its sword form.
Razz watched with amazement as the battle raged on before her eyes caught a glint on the beast's side.
"Mara!" Razz called out. "Stop!"
But Mara didn't hear Razz over the roars of the beast as they clashed over and and over. Neither was willing to let up, they continued clashing and fighting against each other as sparks followed every strike. Mara's eyes glowed brightly, focusing more of her power into the sword. With a battle cry she pushed the large beast back with a wave of energy.
The beast landed on its side, tumbling back to its feet. But Mara was seeing red, her training becoming more and more present in her mind. And there was only one thing to do with an enemy that kept on getting back up.
Mara ran towards the beast, aiming her sword at its heart with all her strength.
"Mara!" Razz appeared before Mara, forcing her sanity to take her.
Mara abruptly stopped herself, digging her heels on the ground. Her sword was inches from Razz's face.
"Razz, why-?" Mara was sent flying into the trees by a blast of magic.
"Razz!" A woman wearing an eagle-headed cloak appeared before her as well as a man holding a sword.
"Mom, dad, wait!" Razz called out as Mara transformed back into her normal self. "She's not like the rest of them. She was trying to protect me." She pulled her parents to see the beast and the wounds it had.
Razz's parents didn't know what to think. The woman they had just attacked had saved their daughter, but it seemed like she didn't know what caused all this mess. They watched her groan, trying to get back up to her feet, something that they normally wouldn't allow. But they were willing to trust someone that had protected their daughter. They walked over to her, with Razz's father putting his foot on the Sword of Protection, keeping it on the ground.
"Our daughter claims you tried to protect her, is that true?" Razz's father asked.
"I did. It is the duty of She-Ra to protect everyone." Mara got back up, unfazed by the sword and the sorceress before her.
Razz's mother scoffed at Mara's claim.
"Something funny?" Mara asked.
"You say 'protect everyone', but we both know it means protecting everyone that lives in the Empire while everyone else must submit to them." Razz's mother glared at Mara. "And then you plunder and exploit and damn anyone or anything that gets in your way. Your expansion has brought imbalance to the world and all the nature around it."
"What? No, the Empire and the Council seek to make the world perfect. To help everyone and control the unpredictable monsters that roam outside, like that one." Mara pointed to the beast.
"You mean the hurt and wounded creature that's been forced out of its home because of your Council's expansion?" Razz's father gestured to the beast as it collapsed once more.
Mara's eyes landed on what he was pointing to. The large beast had burns, lots of burns caused by a chemical fire. She'd seen many of those in her time as a soldier with maintenance and clearances of locations for outposts. She was led to the beast's side, seeing the wounds on its belly and legs. The flesh looked raw and singed by the fire. Those that had these types of wounds needed to be treated quickly or they would be in constant pain. The creature's actions were not only because she attacked it but because her people had caused this to it.
A great feeling of shame filled her.
"I'm sorry, I-I-I didn't know." Mara placed her hand on the beast's side.
Her hand glowed as a wave of energy covered the creature, healing it from all its wounds. Mara pulled her hands back, feeling the energy coursing through her.
"How?" Mara looked at her hands as the creature got back to its feet, healed of any injury.
Mara got back as it looked at her. It licked her face before walking away, deep into the forest.
"First time doing magic?" Razz's mother asked.
"I-I shouldn't be able to. I need the sword to use it, I shouldn't. I-I don't understand." Mara felt the energy coursing through her, it was alien, and at the same time, it felt like a part of her.
"What are you talking about? Magic is everywhere and in everyone," Razz said like it was the obvious answer.
"Everyone is connected to it because we're all part of the world. Magic is a force that connects us all. Your empire just doesn't like that little tidbit to spread out of their control." Razz's mother explained. "You can choose to either be a sword to uphold the orders of a select few or you can choose to actually protect the world and everyone." She summoned the sword with her magic.
Mara took the sword in her hands, looking at her own reflection.
Razz and her parents walked away from her, only for Razz to turn once more to look at her friend.
"If it makes you feel any better, She-Ra isn't all about the sword," Razz said. "It's about you. You are She-Ra."
Mara looked up at Razz, her words having struck something in her. She was a warrior, chosen by her people, but a lot of what she'd done felt more in the services of the Council than the people she hoped to help. She needed to find answers, real answers.
"Lighthope, I need to know the locations of the Six Paths of Suffering." Mara pressed on her communicator.
"The Six Paths of Suffering?" Izuku asked.
"Huh?" Madame Razz asked. "Did I say that? Mara said she'd look into them. Something about them being important." She ate one of the berries.
Izuku, Catra, Adora and Lonnie were helping Madame Razz prepare a pie as she muttered and spoke about the past. All four of them were covered in flour and berries as Madame Razz remembered her past, mentioning The Six Paths of Suffering. The words had long lost their meaning for her, but she remembered them as clearly as the last pie she had baked.
"The recording of Mara spoke of six things," Catra said. "Think it's about these paths?"
"It's not impossible," Adora mentioned. "But what are they? Locations or some sort of code?"
"Let's ask the resident tech and First Ones expert back at the castle." Lonnie dusted herself.
"Not yet." Izuku knelt before Madame Razz. "Razz, did you see more of Mara before she… Before she went away?"
Madame Razz muttered to herself, wondering what Izuku was saying. She looked at Catra and Adora with curiosity before narrowing her eyes at them. Something about them reminded her of Mara all those years ago. Scratching her head, she tried to remember. But like any thought or memory that had long been held in a tight location of one's mind, it seemed to have been forgotten. Yet, it lingered inside Madame Razz's head after all those centuries that she'd lived. Be it 80 or 1080, the mind of a senior citizen was not exactly the most trustworthy. But the memory of that night was still there behind years of clutter and new memories that blocked her way to the truth. She could feel it in the tip of her tongue about to come out after so many years. She tapped her head over and over, hoping to shake it loose.
"The Six Paths of Suffering… The Six Paths of Suffering… Mara… Sword… They were linked together. And she had to… had to-" Madame Razz snapped her fingers. "Oh I remember! You should take better care of yourself, Mara." She pulled the ears of both Catra and Adora, scolding them.
Razz casted another healing spell on Mara's arm.
"You need to be careful, since you won't use your sword, at least take care of yourself." Razz scolded Mara as she winced.
"I can't let them get control of me, Razz. You know that." Mara gritted her teeth. "I gotta end this." She glared at her sword as it laid against the wall of the room.
Razz watched as her friend got up from the medical bed. She was covered in scars and cuts, but she was still pushing herself to help them. Guilt wormed into her heart, thinking that if she hadn't met her, then Mara would still be living a safer life. But it didn't change their present. Mara had made her choice and weirdly, she seemed happier.
The door revealed Razz's parents entering the room.
"Mara, how are you feeling?" Razz's mother asked.
"Sore and wanting to sleep through the week. But I am alive," Mara replied, getting a snicker from Razz.
"Your ship is ready Mara." Razz's father said. "Are you sure you don't want us to go with you?"
"I'm sure, I have to get to the Pyramid when all our forces hit The Six Paths of Suffering at the same time. Each location controls the flow of magic and is imperative to the Heart of Etheria." Mara grabbed her sword, glaring at the runestone it had. "You'll have to deactivate them all and release the flow of magic. The First Ones Empire will collapse with the flow of magic no longer under their control. The relics cannot be destroyed but by initiating the lockdown and using the codes through She-Ra then they'll never be able to put it back online." Mara handed the sword to Razz's mother.
"Where do you want us to hide it?" Razz's father asked.
"In the middle of the woods, far from here. There won't be another She-Ra." Mara's words were determined, knowing fully well that the legacy would end with her.
Razz's mother nodded in understanding. She casted a spell on the sword's runestone before slamming it against the ground, cracking it.
The three of them started to leave only for Razz to grab Mara's hand.
"You don't have to do this, Mara. There must be another way," Razz said.
"I wish I could think of one, Razz." Mara knelt before her. "I'll be back soon, and then… we'll make as many pies as you want."
"Promise?" Razz held out her pinkie.
"Promise." Mara wrapped her own pinkie around Razz's pinkie.
Razz watched Mara walk into her flying ship, turning it on. She watched with a heavy heart as the ship took off to the Pyramid. That was the last time she ever saw Mara.
Ding!
The pie was ready.
Izuku, Catra, Adora and Lonnie all listened to the story as Madame Razz took out the pie.
"That's all that Mara said before leaving." Madame Razz put the pie to cool.
"So, The Six Paths of Suffering were controls that could help regulate the magic of the entire planet," Izuku said.
"And they were sealed to undo the First Ones' control over the magic." Catra added.
"Mara betrayed the First Ones after seeing what they were doing to the world and the people that didn't follow their rules." Adora tightened her fist, feeling a kinship with the past She-Ra. "She sacrificed herself to make sure the world was free."
"And now Hordak wants to activate them back, and doing that would lead to something catastrophic if Modulock is anything to go by." Izuku narrowed his eyes.
"And now we have to find them and stop the Horde from bringing back that empire and submit everyone under a rule that puts everyone else down." Lonnie added. "No worries or anything. Right? Right."