Aaron rocked back and forth on his creaking, wooden chair; keeping to himself as the callous cowboy keenly saw every single rough and tough patron that was currently in, or coming into, this not-so-lovely establishment. Right now, you may be pondering what a green-eyed, brown-haired sixteen-year-old cowboy is doing in a place where he sticks out even more than a sore thumb; the answer to that specific question — he is not from around here. More specifically, he is not from Etheria; he is from a planet some lightyears away from here, just known as Earth.

To promptly make a lengthy story short; he was abducted by some "little green men" when he was around eight or nine — give or take — and seeing there was no way for him to get back home on his own, the boy decided to use what he learned on Earth and became a "space cowboy." When he was twelve-years-old, he ended up getting stuck on Etheria after running into a wormhole — do not ask him how it happened — one thing led to another, and now he is here on this world bitterly divided by civil war and doing whatever it takes to get by.

Straight away, things start getting even more interesting when three distinguishable strangers — who stick out more so than he does — stroll into the seedy bar, and no; this is not the start of a bad joke, in case you were naturally wondering.

The tallest of the odd trio is a teenaged girl who had sky-blue eyes, flaxen hair and comfortably wore a decent, long-sleeved turtleneck that was covered up by a scarlet jacket; as well as grey pants and a brown belt with a complementary pair of golden wings as the buckle, and a blue-bladed sword on her back.

The companion to her left is a petite and stocky girl with pink hair justly styled into a bob; sporting a dark violet sleeveless leotard — under a modest purple tunic with an azure diamond clasp — as well as matching purple boots, fingerless light blue gloves, and a sparkling cape.

The final member to the right of the group is a dark-skinned teenaged boy around Aaron's age; he was garbed in a pale-colored shirt — that was sufficiently covered with golden armor — and dark purple pants with white and gold boots; a longbow was in his left hand and strapped onto his back was a quiver full of arrows.

Aaron wistfully watched as all three of them — specifically the dark-skinned one with undeniable attraction — walked over to the counter while the barkeep gently washed one of the shot glasses; they were not old enough to drink — but to be fair, neither was Aaron; so, they're here either seeking help or trouble.

"Sweetheart, this here place be full o' th' people that there ye just described." The bartender casually said as she pointed her manicured finger at every local pirate, drunken sailor and bounty hunter in the shabby room; including yours truly, and further stated that, "Ask aroun', one o' these "fine" fellows should be willin' t' take ye t' Salineas; fer a price."

"Okay, Bow. Adora." The pink-haired girl promptly began as she instantly turned to the others in her small group. "You two search down here; I'll take the upper levels. Shout, if you find someone who'll take us."

"Will do, Glimmer." The fair-haired girl – whom Aaron assumed to be Adora – said eagerly; just as the pink-haired girl – Glimmer – vanished instantly in an impressive spectacle of rosy lights, and she off splits from Bow to find a seafarer.

Bow was about to walk past Aaron's flimsy table; so, the cowboy instantly decided that right now would be the most opportune time than any to speak with him. "I couldn't help but overhar that ya eend yo-wr party ahr headin' t', Salineas," Aaron spoke up; grabbing the archer's attention as he turned around.

"Oh, yeah we are." Bow humbly said to the local cowboy dressed in reddish-brown leather and a distinctive hat that kept a part of his youthful face hidden; continuing to ask, "Um, are you a pirate or sailor?"

"Neither," Aaron said bluntly as he tilted his hat to get a better look at the dark-skinned teen. "But I'm sumone who 'as bee-yn around; so, what 'as a 'andsome guy like ya goin' t' Salineas? Is it t' meet Princess Mermista?"

"Wait, do you know Princess Mermista?" Bow asked as he promptly pulled up a — somewhat sturdy — chair and sat comfortably across from the gunslinger.

"I wouldn't say I know her, personally; but she and I have done business together befo-wr." Aaron casually answered as he rocked back and forth; asking, "So, what's yo-wr reason for seein' her? If thair is one."

"We are going there on a diplomatic mission under the orders of Queen Angella," Bow told. "We hope to recruit her for the newly reformed Princess Alliance."

"Then I should warn ya that she's a stubborn one." The cowboy informed. "She's goin' t' need some convincin' befo-wr decidin' t' tay-uk uhp arms."

"Well, we knew it wasn't going to be that easy," Bow admitted; before casually sticking out his hand in a greeting gesture. "I'm Bow, by the way."

"Thuh nuh-ame's Aaron." The cowboy introduced; accepting the gesture with his own hand shake.

"And I'm just throwing this out there, but the Princess Rebellion could use some man power," Bow told. "If you want to join, that is."

"Well, thair is one thang Mermista eend I 'ave in common." Aaron casually states. "We both need convincin'."

"Convincing?" Bow questioned the young man.

"It's nothing personal, but I'm not thuh type who offers their servahces for free." The cowboy explained; tapping his fingers on his holster as he continued with, "I'm a Bounty Hunter after all."

"Oh, I see." Bow said in a down tone; making Aaron feel a bit guilty and making the cowboy sigh as he sits up straight and gives the archer a serious look.

"I'll tell ya what. I 'ave current business with Mermista, too." Aaron explained. "Eend was just' awn maah way ta Salineas. Let me tag along; if I like what ya're offering, the-yn I'll sign uhp for yo-wr rebellion, free awf chahrge."

"Well, I guess that would be fair." Bow replied. "All right you have a deal."

"Bow! Glimmer! I think I found ourselves a sailor!" Adora loudly shouted from the other side of the bar.

"Well, let's git goin'." The cowboy said as he stood from his chair and stretched his arms and legs before walking over to the blonde-haired teen and her teleporting friend with Bow.

Arriving at the table, Aaron instantly realizes the man sitting across from them. He was a well-built man with dark tousled hair and a handlebar mustache. He wore a white shirt with a square collar and triangular cutout, a red neckerchief, a blue jacket with gold accents, brown bracers with gold accents, dark grey pants, a brown belt with a holster, and thigh-high cuffed boots. And he went by one name and one name only…

"So, what brings you four to speak with Sea Hawk." The sailor answered in a gregarious manner.

"Um, who's your friend, Bow." Glimmer asked the archer as she looked at Aaron with slight suspicion.

"This is Aaron." Bow introduced the cowboy, as he nodded to the pink-haired girl. "He's offering to join the Rebellion and wants to join us to Salineas."

"Wait, you wish to go to Salineas?" Sea Hawk asked. "I so happen to personally know Queen Mermista."

Aaron silently chuckled at that line; going unnoticed by the others as Adora walked up to him and asked, "If you know Queen Mermista, can you please take us to her. We wish to recruit her to the Princess Rebellion."

"I can take you to see my beloved, for a price." Sea Hawk responded.

"How about this." Adora began as she pulled up a chair and sat across from him; placing her left elbow on the shoddy, wooden table with her arm up. "An arm wrestling match. I win, you take us all to Salineas for free."

"Blondie's gawt spunk; I like her already," Aaron whispered to himself; leaning against the wall as he watched what was about to unfold.

"You have yourself a deal." Sea Hawk replied; taking the arm wrestling position as well. "But I must warn you; I've never been defeated."

With that, the contest of strength began as Adora, and Sea Hawk struggled against each other; but a few seconds later, the blonde-haired girl managed to pin Sea Hawk down.

"That's what I'm talking about." Glimmer enthusiastically said.

"Well… I allowed you to win." Sea Hawk responded, trying to keep his suave demeanor up. "I'm feeling generous today, so I'll take you to Salineas for free; we set voyage, now."

One voyage that involved Sea Hawk boasting about running the 50-klick Galebreath Gauntlet in less than 20 klicks; it isn't a Sea Hawk journey without one of those, a tale about how this is his third ship — now sung as a shanty. Because he burnt the last two down under the pretense of thinking it was charming, barely escaping death against a sea monster and discovering that the blonde one can transform into an eight-foot-tall butt-kicker; the group finally arrived in Salineas. They crossed through the Sea Gate, and the floating, aquatic city had some visible wear-and-tear, but it was just a lovely as the cowboy remembered.

"Halt!" A voice called out from a tower about the five travelers as the guard leaves his post; with huffing and puffing being heard as it draws nearer, and the man exits the tower; out of breath.

"Are… you okay?" Adora asked the man, who just held his finger up; kindly asking for her to give him a minute.

After a few more huffs and puffs, the man stood up and asked them all, "State your business."

"I'm Princess Glimmer of Bright Moon." The petite girl introduced herself. "My companions and I wish to speak with Princess Mermista to see if we can convince her to join the Princess Rebellion."

"Oh, also tell her that Sea Hawk is here to see his beloved." Sea Hawk added in with a romantic flare. "She is bound to be excited."

"And I'm hair ta git paid." Aaron also added in.

"Ew, who let him back in here?" An annoyed sounding Mermista said as she sat in her throne and twirled her teal, wave-like hair with her index finger; while the five travelers stand before the buff, dark-skinned monarch.

"Is the sight of this ruffian bothering you?" Sea Hawk asked; pointing at Aaron while stating, "I shall remove him at once, my love."

"I wasn't like talkin' to him." The ocean-themed Princess said as she sat upward and asked the cowboy, "Also, that job I sent you on?"

"It's bee-yn handled," Aaron said as he extended his hand outward. "As for maah compensation."

"Of course," Mermista said; clapping her hands which caused the same guardsman as before to rush over to her. "Butler, kindly pay thuh man."

"Yes, your Majesty." The guard said as he ran out of the room to fetch the Bounty Hunters reward.

"Wait, your butler is also your body guard?" Adora questioned.

"Totally fer shure, I am super understaffed," Mermista answered at the same time as the guard returned with a pouch full of coins; handing it over to the cowboy who happily takes it.

"I don't usually mix puh-leasyhaw eend business." Aaron casually said as he put the coin pouch away. "But for ya, it is a puh-leasyhaw doin' business."

The young monarch let out an excruciating sigh and groan at how bad that line was, before turning her attention to Glimmer; asking, "Now, how may I help you Princess Twinkle?"

"It's Glimmer, your majesty." The pink Princess replied. "And we've come here to kindly ask of your assistance for the Princess Rebellion so that we may push back the Horde."

"Thuh same one that was disbanded years ago?" Mermista asked.

"Yes." Glimmer quickly answered.

"Sorry Twinkle, not interested." The oceanic Princess dully replied.

"But why not?" Glimmer questioned.

"Like, thuh Princess Rebellion failed thuh first time around, and Salineas payed thuh price," Mermista explained. "My priority is ya know, like, to my people."

"But we could really use you on our side." Glimmer protested.

"Don't worry, Twinkle." Sea Hawk flamboyantly stepped in — much to Glimmer's annoyance — and walked up to the side of Mermista's throne with a lovestruck look. "I can convince her."

"Why did you brin' him here?" Mermista asked as she clenched her teeth. "He is. So. Annoyin'."

"Come now, my beloved." Sea Hawke began with a flirty tone. "These young travelers came all the way here to seek your help; all they ask is you consider their offer, could you do that, for me?"

Instead of answering the sailor's question, Mermista turned her attention to Aaron who patiently stood — in-between Bow and Adora — in silence, and asks, "Aaron, I will pay you double if you shoot Sea Hawk right now."

The cowboy's head shot up with interest at the proposal and pulls out one of his revolvers; pointing the gun at the sailor while kindly asking, "You want a flesh wound, or sumthin' jus' a lidl mo-wr lethal?"

"Woah, woah, put that away!" Bow shouted as he stood in-between the line of fire; turning to Mermista. "If you don't mind me asking, your majesty, why don't you like Sea Hawk?"

"I have a million different answers to that question." Mermista bluntly answered; while pushing Sea Hawk's face away from hers. "One was because he got us kicked out of a fancy restaurant and tried to duel thuh doorman."

"I don't recall that." Sea Hawk said.

"And like another was because he set fire to our gondola in like thuh tunnel of love," Mermista concluded.

"I do remember that." Sea Hawk proudly admits.

"Isn't there anything we can do to convince you?" Glimmer asked.

Mermista stayed quiet for a while, but eventually came up with an idea for how they could convince her; stating, "Well, Twinkle, if you can help me with thuh Sea Gate; then I'll think about your proposal."

"Sea Gate?" Adora questioned.

"It's what we passed through on our way here." Bow reminded the blonde. "It helps protect Salineas from outside threats."

"She-Ra could probably do that without a problem." Glimmer stated.

"It's worth a shot," Adora said.

"You fix thuh Sea Gate, and like you'll have my help," Mermista said before clapping her hands. "Before we do that though, butler, kindly fetch our guests some hors d'oeuvres."

"Yes, your majesty." The guardsman/servant said as he made haste to the kitchen.

Mermista noticed that Sea Hawk was still giving her googly-eyes, and quickly adds, "For everyone but Sea Hawk."

"Look, I know this didn't go smoothly." Bow stated to Aaron as the archer and cowboy walked behind the others. "But, hopefully, you could still join the Rebellion."

"I told ya that if I liked what was bein' offered, I'd join," Aaron stated. "But if sumone like Mermista doesn't see any value in it, the-yn what good is it t' me?"

"You seriously can't be in this for the money?" Bow questioned.

"Hey, people need to do what thay must ta git by. I'm not that different." Aaron stated. "An I'm sorry if ya don't see it that way."

"Come on, it's this way," Mermista said as she led the group up a tower and onto a platform that took them closer to the Sea Gate.

"Okay, Adora." Glimmer cheerfully said. "Do your magic."

The blonde nodded as she unsheathed her enchanted sword; raising it above her head and shouting, "For the honor of Grayskull." A blinding light surrounded the area and eventually ceased revealing the eight-foot-tall golden warrior that was She-Ra: Princess of Power.

"Wow, okay that's... different," Mermista admitted with a genuine look of surprise.

She-Ra pointed her blade at the Sea Gate, causing a blue beam of energy to erupt from it. "This is going to take some time," She-Ra stated. "But it'll work."

"Your majesty!" The butler/guardsman shouted as he ran up to where the others were. "A Horde ship has been spotted heading towards Salineas!"

"What?" Mermista said with surprise.

"I can't fix the Sea Gate and fight them at the same time," Adora stated.

"We'll give you the time you need." Bow said as he drew his bow and arrow. "Aaron, we could use your help."

"How so?" Aaron asked.

"Help us push the Horde back. Please." Bow begged.

"All right, I'll see what I kay-yun do." Aaron casually said as he took out his revolvers; before Glimmer grabbed onto him, Sea Hawk and Bow and teleported off to battle.

The unlikely quartet re-emerges on the Horde ship where they were immediately attacked by a small group of soldiers; Aaron fired a blast of energy from his revolvers at their feet; making them back up as Bow used his trick arrows to immobilize their opponents, while Glimmer did the same with her sparkling magic.

"We need to find a way to slow down this boat." Bow said to the others.

"I think I have an idea." Glimmer spoke up as he turned to Sea Hawk and said, "I need your help. I need you to do, what you do best."

Sea Hawk's expression began to glow brightly; asking, "Do you mean…"

"Yes." Glimmer answered, knowing what he was going to ask as they quickly teleport away.

As soon as the two of them disappeared, Bow and Aaron then found themselves faced to face with a new, larger, opponent; she wore a Horde Force-Captain uniform with reds and blacks, had white, pixie-cut hair, and a scorpion stinger and claws. "Just so you both know, this isn't personal; I'm just doing my job!" The scorpion woman stated as she charged towards them at speeds faster than the cowboy or archer anticipated and slammed her claws down onto them. Both leap out of the way and Aaron quickly fires his revolvers; only to have the blasts blocked by his opponents tail and claws; saying, "Rude."

Aaron backed up and continued firing as the she-scorpion advanced towards him; blocking and dodging his attacks before getting close enough to try and sting him, but the cowboy was able to avoid that attack.

Bow fired three different sets of trick arrows at the Horde soldier; successfully getting her attention as she swats Aaron aside with her tail and goes after her new target. The somewhat nice brute quickly rushes over to and knocks Bow's weapon out of his hand with a single swipe of her claws; proceeding to pick him up and was about to throw him overboard. But Aaron shoots at the scorpion lady's back; who deflects the attack with her tail again but was distracted long enough for Bow to free himself and run away from the large opponent.

The boat began shaking suddenly; causing everyone onboard to fall over as Aaron looked up and saw a giant wave — conjured up by a trident wielding Mermista — carrying Sea Hawk's ship; which was then lit on fire, towards the Horde ship.

The cowboy then notices Glimmer, and Sea Haw materializes near Bow before they teleported over to Aaron; grabbing him and vanishing out of the way of the colliding vessels in the nick of time.

The four of them were teleported behind She-Ra; who finished repairing the Sea Gate before collapsing but Bow and Glimmer were able to catch just as she reverted into Adora; stating, "I managed to fix the Sea Gate. Did you handle the Horde?"

"We sent 'em runnin'," Aaron assured as Adora gives the gunman a faint smile of glee.

"So, does that mean you'll join us?" Glimmer asked Mermista; who has been acting very elusive when answering a simple question in a straight manner.

"The Horde almost destroyed my home. I wanna help fight them." Mermista finally said seriously; continuing with as she casually points her thumb at Adora behind her, "...Pluuus, your friend over there can turn into a, like, eight-foot-tall lady with a sword and I want her on my side."

"Thank you." Adora humbly said to the sea monarch. "Your assistance will be appreciated."

"Um, sure… whatever." Mermista bashfully said with a slight blush; before instantly turning her attention to Aaron. "I supposed you, like, want some payment?"

"Consider this one for free." Aaron responded before turning his attention to Bow; adding in, "And ya 'ave another member for thuh rebellion."

"Really?" Bow asked the cowboy.

"Yes," Aaron positively assured as he gently shakes Bow's hand; looking forward to working alongside these three.

"And the last order of business," Mermista said; clapping her hands as her butler/guardsman sailed a brand-new ship towards the docks; much to Sea Hawk's glee. "Now, try not to burn this one."

"No promises." Sea Hawk responded as he rushes over to his new vessel.

This may be the unlikeliest gathering of people for this loner to group up with, but Aaron could tell he is going to have many adventures to look forward to with them.

I hope you enjoyed gabeherndon308.