Chapter 1; Racing and Reflection
It was a cool summer evening under the light of three purple moons; a slight breeze stirred the air and most of the land lay silent- the gentle slap of foam capped waves to sandy shore almost lost to the darkness.
Thump, thump, thidda-thump; sand moist with salty sea flew up as horses hooves pounded across a slumbering beach- one horse fast and free tore out across the landscape an arrow from deity's quiver straight and true veering neither left nor right. The ivory stallion with auburn hair was followed by one of a golden hue with fiery mane.
Both carried a rider, each beautiful to behold. The white carried a woman, slender, tall, curved in a manner that drove men wild; her golden hair flew out behind her in tangled abandon, honey-spun waves caressed in moonglow splendor. Her cheeks were dusted with a rosy blush of joy as she strained with her mount for more speed. She wore a form fitting jumper of red leather with crimson gauntlets and calf length boots the same, beneath it she wore a white body suit to protect her from the elements. This woman marveled in her freedom, cherishing each second. Her firm lean muscles hugged tight to the sides of her horse.
Not far behind a man rode urging his own mount to greater stride, seeking to close the distance between the two. His muscular form was well defined, his chest and torso rippled with sinuous grace, lean and hard as if carved from granite.
Sweat glistened on his brow and moistened his mustache, a beaded line of perspiration dripped down his torso and another trailed down his back between his shoulder blades. His thick auburn hair, cropped at the neck, matched that of Arrow, his steed. A flamboyant red cape billowed out behind him and a rakish grin curled across his manly features.
Nearly side by side the two made a striking pair racing along the beach with only the night to witness their reckless bravado. As the riders neared a stand of trees the horses began slowing till they came to a halt. A gentle laugh rang out into the cool night air, a feminine sound, soon joined by another this one deeper and masculine.
"Beat you again Bow, when are you going to learn that Spirit is the fastest horse on the planet?"
"I'll beat you one day Adora, the odds are in my favor, Spirit can't win every time- besides Arrow has almost perfected his timing- just you wait, he'll beat you yet."
Adora laughed, "It's not me your horse has to beat, it's Spirit."
Bow feigned a hangdog expression "Must I really cook your meals for another week!"
"Stop whining Bow, remember you are part of the Great Rebellion, besides," she said, smiling cheekily, "a bets a bet, no welshing, I won fair and square." She then began building a small fire as Bow pulled out the cooking implements.
He looked over at her and she smiled at him, a dazzling smile, he nearly forgot to breathe. For the past five years he had fought alongside this woman against the Horde to free their people and only now was he beginning to realize what a special woman Adora was. All those years mooning over She-Ra and hoping she would come to consider him as more than a friend.
She never had.
Then Adora met the Sea Hawk. Bow didn't know what separated them but it wounded Adora, deeply. Bow, a perpetual clown who liked to help others find the joy in themselves tried to cheer her; in so doing he realized what a good friend Adora was. They often rode their horses here along the beach, engaging in innocent flirtation. Bow loved the feeling of freedom he felt on the back of his horse. He knew Adora felt the same.
"You know you're a great fighter and an awesome tactitian, I really don't understand why you're such a horrible cook?"
"I guess my brother got all the culinary talent in the family, his spice bread is famous you know. And I'm not so bad. I can boil water." Bow laughed at her.
"Adora what did they teach you as a child." He instantly realized his mistake. Adora didn't like speaking of her childhood. She had been raised by the horde. However it was too late to withdraw the statement. Bow cautiously glanced across the fire at Adora, she wasn't mad, she seemed lost in thought, a smile on her lips.
"They trained me in many things as a child but cooking wasn't one of them."
Bow, realizing he had an opportunity to learn more about her past, threw a couple of birds on a spit, put some herbs on them and left them to roast slowly in their own juices.
Casually he asked, "what was it like, being raised by the Horde I mean? Were there any other children?"
"Squadrons of them. Children are taken from their parents at a young age, generally at a ratio of ten per hundred each year, then trained and drilled to be troopers. The best go to horde world serving Horde Prime. The rest stay here and serve Hordak….except me. I was special. They trained me harder than any one else; I was the only girl in my squad- I learned later that there were other girls in other squads, but not mine. I had to be better than everyone else. Hordak came often, with Shadow Weaver- to watch my progress. I think Hordak was grooming me to be Force Captain before I was even out of my youth."
"Why was he so hard on you?"
"Because Bow, I was ensorcelled by Shadow Weavers spells. My loyalty was unquestioned. Also I was the daughter of his enemy. A trophy, I believe. My father defeated him and his army back on Eternia and I believe he enjoyed the idea of raising his enemy's daughter to be a force of evil. I even think he cared for me- like a puppy. He knew I had a very special destiny he simply could not foresee what it was."
Bow laughed, "I bet he was pretty surprised to realize his most elite soldier was destined to lead the Great Rebellion." Instead of grinning as Bow had thought she would, Adora poked a stick into the flames and watched the sparks fly up into the sky.
"Much of my childhood is fuzzy, I only recall pieces here and there, I know now that was because of Shadow Weavers spells, but one thing I do remember was being afraid all the time."
"You, afraid?" Bow snorted derisively, "I don't believe it."
"It's true Bow, I had to constantly be the best, yet each night I would lay down alone in my own room in the fright zone, away from the training barracks where the other children stayed. I would cry for a mother that never came. In my mind Shadow Weaver became my mother and Hordak my father. I lived for their approval."
Bow was silent a minute, realizing how isolated Adora must have been as a child. He tried to imagine looking to Hordak for approval or ugh! Shadow Weaver. If anything could make his blood run cold it was her. He couldn't begin to comprehend. Fear however, was something he understood and could relate to well. He stood to gaze out over the sea, and leaned against a tree, the ruby heart which hung at the center of his chest sparkled in the velvet night and golden light cast by the crackling flames. His face was obscured by shadows.
"I too know what it is like to be afraid. When the horde came to Etheria my father and mother resisted. They were farmers. They simply wanted to be left alone. Years went by with no problems, then one day for no reason at all troopers came to my home. My mother had been washing the clothes when my father ran into the house, his head was bloody, he was soaked with sweat. He told my mother to grab me and run for the woods. She did, but then instead of going to the woods we hid behind some bushes away from the yard. My father attacked a trooper with a scythe. They shot him with a stun gun. My mother cried out as my father fell. We were revealed." Bow paused a moment, his jaw clenching at the pain of remembrance.
Adora held her eyes upon him. He continued. "I remember the smell of ginger mixed with a woman's fear; my mother often smelled like spice." He smiled wryly, "it was she that taught me to cook so well. The troopers shot at us but my mother shoved me towards the woods. She told me to run, run and don't stop. So I did. I made it to the woods before I realized she wasn't with me, I looked back towards our farm. All that was left was a pillar of smoke. My home was in ashes. I never saw either of my parents again."
"How old were you Bow?"
"I was twelve years old the day the Horde stole my family and my childhood. I vowed then and there never to submit. I would fight to be free as my parents had fought, and I would fight so that others would not have to endure the pain that I had."
All was silent for a moment. Then Adora rose and walked over to Bow. She stood behind him. She lay her head upon his shoulder and put a arm around him.
"Bow, I'm sorry for your past, children should never have to be afraid," she paused a moment, letting the comfort of her presence sink into his soul, "but if you burn my dinner I'm going to add a week to the deal." Laughing together they shared the meal in silence. After eating they spread their bedrolls on opposite sides of the fire. Adora lay down staring at the stars. Bow sitting on his bedroll began playing his harp.
Music drifting sweetly on the wind deftly wrapped her senses around the haunting refrain, blending gently with the sound of surf, slowly she drifted into that land between slumber and wakefulness. Then it stopped. Bow bedded down, stoking the fire one more time to make sure it would last through the night. Adora turned to her side peering at him through long sooty lashes. Reaching up a hand she caressed the jewel in the middle of the Sword of Protection.
"Bow…"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think the fighting will ever end?" Silence.
"I'm so tired of all the battles and the blood and the sacrifice."
"War is bloody business Adora and freedom never comes without sacrifice." He was silent a moment, "Adora you've never killed…..have you?"
"No, but I've lost friends and I've injured people, many may have died."
"True, but always to defend the innocent. Its what we do. We are real life hero's."
"Bow, I don't want to be a hero any more, I want to go home, I want my people free and I want to stop fighting for so many who won't lift a finger to fight for themselves."
"Well Adora it's what we do you know, defend the downtrodden."
"I know. I just wish there was a better way. Good night, Bow."
"Night."
It was a cool summer evening under the light of three purple moons; a slight breeze stirred the air and most of the land lay silent- the gentle slap of foam capped waves to sandy shore almost lost to the darkness.
Thump, thump, thidda-thump; sand moist with salty sea flew up as horses hooves pounded across a slumbering beach- one horse fast and free tore out across the landscape an arrow from deity's quiver straight and true veering neither left nor right. The ivory stallion with auburn hair was followed by one of a golden hue with fiery mane.
Both carried a rider, each beautiful to behold. The white carried a woman, slender, tall, curved in a manner that drove men wild; her golden hair flew out behind her in tangled abandon, honey-spun waves caressed in moonglow splendor. Her cheeks were dusted with a rosy blush of joy as she strained with her mount for more speed. She wore a form fitting jumper of red leather with crimson gauntlets and calf length boots the same, beneath it she wore a white body suit to protect her from the elements. This woman marveled in her freedom, cherishing each second. Her firm lean muscles hugged tight to the sides of her horse.
Not far behind a man rode urging his own mount to greater stride, seeking to close the distance between the two. His muscular form was well defined, his chest and torso rippled with sinuous grace, lean and hard as if carved from granite.
Sweat glistened on his brow and moistened his mustache, a beaded line of perspiration dripped down his torso and another trailed down his back between his shoulder blades. His thick auburn hair, cropped at the neck, matched that of Arrow, his steed. A flamboyant red cape billowed out behind him and a rakish grin curled across his manly features.
Nearly side by side the two made a striking pair racing along the beach with only the night to witness their reckless bravado. As the riders neared a stand of trees the horses began slowing till they came to a halt. A gentle laugh rang out into the cool night air, a feminine sound, soon joined by another this one deeper and masculine.
"Beat you again Bow, when are you going to learn that Spirit is the fastest horse on the planet?"
"I'll beat you one day Adora, the odds are in my favor, Spirit can't win every time- besides Arrow has almost perfected his timing- just you wait, he'll beat you yet."
Adora laughed, "It's not me your horse has to beat, it's Spirit."
Bow feigned a hangdog expression "Must I really cook your meals for another week!"
"Stop whining Bow, remember you are part of the Great Rebellion, besides," she said, smiling cheekily, "a bets a bet, no welshing, I won fair and square." She then began building a small fire as Bow pulled out the cooking implements.
He looked over at her and she smiled at him, a dazzling smile, he nearly forgot to breathe. For the past five years he had fought alongside this woman against the Horde to free their people and only now was he beginning to realize what a special woman Adora was. All those years mooning over She-Ra and hoping she would come to consider him as more than a friend.
She never had.
Then Adora met the Sea Hawk. Bow didn't know what separated them but it wounded Adora, deeply. Bow, a perpetual clown who liked to help others find the joy in themselves tried to cheer her; in so doing he realized what a good friend Adora was. They often rode their horses here along the beach, engaging in innocent flirtation. Bow loved the feeling of freedom he felt on the back of his horse. He knew Adora felt the same.
"You know you're a great fighter and an awesome tactitian, I really don't understand why you're such a horrible cook?"
"I guess my brother got all the culinary talent in the family, his spice bread is famous you know. And I'm not so bad. I can boil water." Bow laughed at her.
"Adora what did they teach you as a child." He instantly realized his mistake. Adora didn't like speaking of her childhood. She had been raised by the horde. However it was too late to withdraw the statement. Bow cautiously glanced across the fire at Adora, she wasn't mad, she seemed lost in thought, a smile on her lips.
"They trained me in many things as a child but cooking wasn't one of them."
Bow, realizing he had an opportunity to learn more about her past, threw a couple of birds on a spit, put some herbs on them and left them to roast slowly in their own juices.
Casually he asked, "what was it like, being raised by the Horde I mean? Were there any other children?"
"Squadrons of them. Children are taken from their parents at a young age, generally at a ratio of ten per hundred each year, then trained and drilled to be troopers. The best go to horde world serving Horde Prime. The rest stay here and serve Hordak….except me. I was special. They trained me harder than any one else; I was the only girl in my squad- I learned later that there were other girls in other squads, but not mine. I had to be better than everyone else. Hordak came often, with Shadow Weaver- to watch my progress. I think Hordak was grooming me to be Force Captain before I was even out of my youth."
"Why was he so hard on you?"
"Because Bow, I was ensorcelled by Shadow Weavers spells. My loyalty was unquestioned. Also I was the daughter of his enemy. A trophy, I believe. My father defeated him and his army back on Eternia and I believe he enjoyed the idea of raising his enemy's daughter to be a force of evil. I even think he cared for me- like a puppy. He knew I had a very special destiny he simply could not foresee what it was."
Bow laughed, "I bet he was pretty surprised to realize his most elite soldier was destined to lead the Great Rebellion." Instead of grinning as Bow had thought she would, Adora poked a stick into the flames and watched the sparks fly up into the sky.
"Much of my childhood is fuzzy, I only recall pieces here and there, I know now that was because of Shadow Weavers spells, but one thing I do remember was being afraid all the time."
"You, afraid?" Bow snorted derisively, "I don't believe it."
"It's true Bow, I had to constantly be the best, yet each night I would lay down alone in my own room in the fright zone, away from the training barracks where the other children stayed. I would cry for a mother that never came. In my mind Shadow Weaver became my mother and Hordak my father. I lived for their approval."
Bow was silent a minute, realizing how isolated Adora must have been as a child. He tried to imagine looking to Hordak for approval or ugh! Shadow Weaver. If anything could make his blood run cold it was her. He couldn't begin to comprehend. Fear however, was something he understood and could relate to well. He stood to gaze out over the sea, and leaned against a tree, the ruby heart which hung at the center of his chest sparkled in the velvet night and golden light cast by the crackling flames. His face was obscured by shadows.
"I too know what it is like to be afraid. When the horde came to Etheria my father and mother resisted. They were farmers. They simply wanted to be left alone. Years went by with no problems, then one day for no reason at all troopers came to my home. My mother had been washing the clothes when my father ran into the house, his head was bloody, he was soaked with sweat. He told my mother to grab me and run for the woods. She did, but then instead of going to the woods we hid behind some bushes away from the yard. My father attacked a trooper with a scythe. They shot him with a stun gun. My mother cried out as my father fell. We were revealed." Bow paused a moment, his jaw clenching at the pain of remembrance.
Adora held her eyes upon him. He continued. "I remember the smell of ginger mixed with a woman's fear; my mother often smelled like spice." He smiled wryly, "it was she that taught me to cook so well. The troopers shot at us but my mother shoved me towards the woods. She told me to run, run and don't stop. So I did. I made it to the woods before I realized she wasn't with me, I looked back towards our farm. All that was left was a pillar of smoke. My home was in ashes. I never saw either of my parents again."
"How old were you Bow?"
"I was twelve years old the day the Horde stole my family and my childhood. I vowed then and there never to submit. I would fight to be free as my parents had fought, and I would fight so that others would not have to endure the pain that I had."
All was silent for a moment. Then Adora rose and walked over to Bow. She stood behind him. She lay her head upon his shoulder and put a arm around him.
"Bow, I'm sorry for your past, children should never have to be afraid," she paused a moment, letting the comfort of her presence sink into his soul, "but if you burn my dinner I'm going to add a week to the deal." Laughing together they shared the meal in silence. After eating they spread their bedrolls on opposite sides of the fire. Adora lay down staring at the stars. Bow sitting on his bedroll began playing his harp.
Music drifting sweetly on the wind deftly wrapped her senses around the haunting refrain, blending gently with the sound of surf, slowly she drifted into that land between slumber and wakefulness. Then it stopped. Bow bedded down, stoking the fire one more time to make sure it would last through the night. Adora turned to her side peering at him through long sooty lashes. Reaching up a hand she caressed the jewel in the middle of the Sword of Protection.
"Bow…"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think the fighting will ever end?" Silence.
"I'm so tired of all the battles and the blood and the sacrifice."
"War is bloody business Adora and freedom never comes without sacrifice." He was silent a moment, "Adora you've never killed…..have you?"
"No, but I've lost friends and I've injured people, many may have died."
"True, but always to defend the innocent. Its what we do. We are real life hero's."
"Bow, I don't want to be a hero any more, I want to go home, I want my people free and I want to stop fighting for so many who won't lift a finger to fight for themselves."
"Well Adora it's what we do you know, defend the downtrodden."
"I know. I just wish there was a better way. Good night, Bow."
"Night."