Greta Hundertmark
January 28, 2001
Maternal Instinct I
Maternal Instinct I
It was a very clear summer night, as the half full moon shown brightly through the trees in Whispering Woods. Adora and Glimmer sat on log benches around the campfire relaxing, while most of the rebels had retired for the night.
Glimmer looked up at the stars and said, "Wow, I could sit out here for hours, Adora. Very rarely do we have a peaceful night like this".
"Yes, Glimmer, we should enjoy this while we have the chance", said Adora.
Glimmer and Adora's silence was interrupted by Bow running over to them in a frantic mood.
"Adora! Glimmer! I just got word that Queen Angella has been captured by Hordak and his thugs", cried Bow.
"Oh, no, Mother. We have to go rescue her", cried Glimmer.
"Yes, Glimmer, we will rescue your mother. We need to find out more though because this may be a Horde trap", said Adora.
"How did they do it? My mother's magic is strong enough to ward off any attack", cried Glimmer.
"Glimmer, we will do anything in our power to save your mother, but we must not be too hasty", said Adora.
"Adora's right, Glimmer. They probably are expecting us to go off and rescue her", said Bow.
"Oh, why can't they just leave our family alone?" wailed Glimmer.
"I know it's a shame you and your parents can't live in peace", said Adora.
"What are we going to do, Adora?" asked Glimmer.
"You and Bow wait here. I am going to go see if I can find She-ra", said Adora.
"Thank you, Adora", said Glimmer, as she looked down.
Bow walked over to Glimmer, put her arm around her, and said, "Don't worry, Glimmer. We will get your mother back, I promise".
"Oh, I hope so. I hope she's all right", said Glimmer, wiping tears from her eyes.
Adora ran deep into the woods, and then whistled, summoning her white horse Spirit to her side.
"We need to help Glimmer rescue her mother, Spirit. Are you ready?" asked Adora.
"I'll be ready when you are, Adora", said Spirit.
Adora held up her sword and cried, "For the honor of Grayskull. I am She-ra".
With a flash of light, Adora became She-ra and Spirit became a flying unicorn named Swiftwind. She-ra leaped onto Swiftwind's back and Swiftwind took off into the night sky.
Glimmer was getting impatient and started to run off. "I cannot wait any longer. I am going to go rescue my mother myself if I have to", she cried.
Bow grabbed Glimmer by the arm and cried, "Glimmer, just hold on. They are waiting for you. They would have the upper hand on us if they captured both Bright Moon's queen and princess".
"I cannot sit around and wait for Adora to go fetch She-ra while my mother is sitting in a dark depressing Horde cell", said Glimmer.
Bow turned around and saw She-ra on Swiftwind coming down to make a landing at the rebel camp.
"Glimmer, hold on. We have our ride", said Bow.
She-ra dismounted Swiftwind and ran over to Bow and Glimmer. "Bow, Glimmer, Adora told me what happened. We will go and rescue Queen Angella", she said.
"Please, She-ra, you must help me save my mother", begged Glimmer.
"I will, Glimmer. I will do all that I can to make sure your mother is safe", said She-ra, embracing Glimmer and trying to comfort her.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go", said Bow.
"Um, Bow, we need you to stay here and watch over things at the rebel camp. Glimmer and I will go to rescue Queen Angella", said She-ra.
"She-ra, I promised Glimmer I'd go help rescue Queen Angella", said Bow.
"Bow, She-ra is right. I appreciate you wanting to help, but you're needed here at the camp", said Glimmer.
Bow grumbled a bit and then said, "Okay, I guess you're right, but please be careful".
"We will, Bow. Just worry about things at camp. Glimmer and I should be back soon with the queen", said She-ra.
Queen Angella awoke to find herself lying on the hard cement dungeon floor of Hordak's home, the Fright Zone. Her muscles ached as she tried to sit up. She rubbed her eyes, which teared up from the dust that was abundant in the Fright Zone and saw that Shadow Weaver stood on the other side of the prison bars.
"What am I doing here, Shadow Weaver? How did you ever manage to capture me?" asked Angella.
"I created a powerful warrior that could sneak past your castle defenses and knock you out with my special powder that kept you from waking up. With you here, the Horde shall take over Bright Moon once and for all", hissed Shadow Weaver.
"The Rebellion will find me Shadow Weaver. My daughter will not let me remain a prisoner in this dump", said Angella, as her eyes started to become angry.
"What a joke? Your daughter can do nothing to save you. If she does, I will make sure she shares some quality time with you in your cell", said Shadow Weaver.
"You lay one finger on my daughter and I'll destroy you", said Angella.
"Oh, such strong words from royalty. I know you could not hurt me if you had the chance", said Shadow Weaver.
"You're right, Shadow Weaver. I am better than that, but when it comes to my child, I will do all that I can to protect her", said Angella.
"Yeah, yeah, Angella, sometimes I wonder how far you'd really go to save your precious daughter. I have you in my clutches you worthless excuse for royalty and now we shall make sure your princess never sees the light either", said Shadow Weaver.
Angella looked down at the ground and quietly said to herself, "Oh, Glimmer, please be safe".
Glimmer and She-ra rode together on Swiftwind. As they approached the Fright Zone, Swiftwind slowed down.
"Keep low and keep a watchful eye out. The Horde is expecting some sort of rescue party", said She-ra.
"I still don't know how the Horde could have captured my mother. Her magic is way too powerful. The Horde could have never penetrated the castle's defenses", said Glimmer.
"We don't know, but we must find your mother and get her back safely to Castle Bright Moon", said She-ra.
Swiftwind kept low and landed in an area just outside the Fright Zone. She-ra looked around and saw that some Horde troopers were keeping a watchful eye.
She-ra turned to Swiftwind and said, "Swiftwind, stay here and out of sight. Glimmer and I will try to figure a way to get in".
"Okay, She-ra, but be careful", said Swiftwind.
"I will, my friend. Come on, Glimmer. Let's find your mother", said She-ra, as she and Glimmer walked on foot toward the Fright Zone.
She-ra and Glimmer got close enough to the Fright Zone that they could see the back gate, but Horde Troopers heavily guarded it.
Glimmer put her hands on her temples and said, "I can sense my mother. She is all right and nearby".
"Glimmer, there is a ventilation shaft right there that leads to the dungeons. Could you get through there and find your mother while I create a distraction?" asked She-ra, her hand on Glimmer's shoulder.
"Yes, She-ra, but how do you know that?" asked Glimmer.
"I just do, Glimmer. Now when I create the distraction, run to that vent and get inside. I'll meet up with you later", said She-ra.
"Sure", replied Glimmer, not feeling so sure of herself.
She-ra walked over and stood on some high land that overlooked the back entrance to the Fright Zone.
One of the Horde troopers looked up, pointed at She-ra, and cried, "Look! It's She-ra! Let's get her!"
"I haven't heard that line before. I guess you'll have to catch me first", said She-ra.
She-ra waited as the troopers opened fire. She-ra leaped and flipped over their heads just as the fire rays hit where she had been standing. The troopers turned and aimed, but She-ra again flipped over them. While, the troopers were all trying to capture She-ra, Glimmer looked at the vent and made a run for it.
"Mother, please give me the strength. I will find you", Glimmer said to herself, as she pulled off the vent and quickly went inside.
Angella sat quietly on the ground, thinking about how she could get herself out of the Fright Zone. She tried to use what magic she had on the bars, but Shadow Weaver had cast a spell on them that made them indestructible. She tried to send a ray of power to try to destroy the bars, but it just shot it back, zapping her. Angella hit the ground, feeling pain throughout her body. She moaned as she tried to lift her body off the ground. Her wings were all tattered and caked with dirt from the dungeon floor.
"I must get out of here. My powers are weakening", Angella said to herself, as she winced in pain.
"Mother", called a soft voice.
Angella looked up and saw Glimmer standing on the other side of the bar. Angella slowly got up and walked over to her.
"Glimmer, how did you get here? You must get out of here before somebody sees you", said Angella.
"No, Mother, I am not leaving here without you. The Horde will pay for what they have done to you", said Glimmer.
"Glimmer, I will not have you put yourself in danger. Please, leave", said Angella, tears in her eyes.
Glimmer started to cry and said, "I am not leaving. I am going to get you out of here, Mother".
"Well, what do we have here? You were a fool to come here, Princess Glimmer", said a voice.
"Glimmer, get out of here!" cried Angella.
Glimmer turned around and saw Shadow Weaver standing in the doorway with a strange dark warrior woman with gray skin and jet-black hair. Her dark hollow eyes gave Glimmer the chills as she stared right through her.
"I guess this is the time to introduce my creation, Dark Moon. The creature that penetrated Bright Moon's defense and captured their queen", said Shadow Weaver.
"You'll never get away with this, Shadow Weaver. Release my mother", cried Glimmer.
"That's what you think, Child. Dark Moon, capture this whining princess", commanded Shadow Weaver, as she just faded away.
Glimmer stood face to face with the dark warrior woman with a strange crystal rod. Dark Moon approached Glimmer and swung at her with the rod, but Glimmer disappeared, only to reappear behind her.
"You have to do better than that", cried Glimmer.
Angella was worried with fear as the creature attacked her daughter. She cried out, "Glimmer, get out of here. She's very dangerous. Please".
Dark Moon turned around and got ready to charge Glimmer again. Glimmer took both of her hands and shot out a couple of rays of light at the creature. She had to disappear again in a hurry because Dark Moon deflected the light rays with her rod and sent them right back at Glimmer.
"Glimmer! Run!" cried Angella, as she tried to use her magic to get herself out of the prison.
Glimmer looked down the hall and tried to make a run. "I'll get She-ra, Mother. Hang on", she cried.
Dark Moon pointed her rod up and used it to zap a bolt of blue magic at the ceiling, causing it to cave in, blocking Glimmer from going through. Glimmer found herself backed up against the pile of rocks as the creature slowly walked her way.
Angella grabbed hold of the bars and said to herself, "I must get out of here. Glimmer is in trouble."
Glimmer made another disappearing trick and reappeared behind Dark Moon again. She tried to use her light powers again, but found that her energy was running low. Dark Moon swung her rod at Glimmer, but she ducked. She felt exhausted, and started to pray that She-ra would make it there in time. Glimmer rolled on the ground to get out of the warrior's way and then stood up. The warrior caught Glimmer by the leg causing her to stumble. Then Dark Moon took her rod, which was glowing a bright red, and drove it through Glimmer's mid section. Glimmer gasped for air, as the creature the princess's lifeless body fell off her rod and onto the ground.
Angella cried out, "No! Glimmer!"
Angella felt a surge of power enter her body as she aimed it at the bar and completely demolished it. She looked at Dark Moon straight in the eye, rage going through her body.
Dark Moon charged Angella, but Angella blasted her with a powerful ray of light. Dark Moon gasped, and then quickly turned to ash, her body crumbling away. Angella ran to Glimmer and kneeled down.
"Glimmer, my sweet daughter, please hold on", sobbed Angella.
Glimmer opened her eyes; her voice was very weak as she said, "Mother, I'm sorry".
"Glimmer, don't be sorry. You were so brave. I am so proud of you", Angella cried, as she held Glimmer's head in her lap.
"I'm scared, Mother. I am so scared. I wanted to get you out of this place", Glimmer said, as tears filled her eyes.
Angella looked at Glimmer's mid section and saw that she was bleeding heavily. Angella placed her hand on the wounds and pushed down, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was no use.
"No! Help me! Please! Don't take my daughter away from me!" cried Angella.
Angella heard a loud crash and saw that She-ra had punched through the pile of rocks that Dark Moon had created to block off Glimmer.
"Oh, my god!" cried She-ra, as she saw Angella holding Glimmer's lifeless body in her arms.
"She-ra, you have to save her!" Angella sobbed.
"My healing powers don't work well on humans, but I'll see what I can do", said She-ra, as she laid her hands on Glimmer's wound.
She-ra's hands started to glow. Glimmer closed her eyes, and fell limp in Angella's arms.
"Glimmer, please hold on", Angella begged.
"I love you, Mother", Glimmer said, before she passed away.
She-ra started to cry as she realized her healing powers had failed. Angella screamed, "No!"
She-ra wiped away her tears and said, "I am so sorry, Angella."
"No, She-ra, you have to try again. You have to save my daughter", Angella screamed at her.
She-ra did not know what to do. Angella was distraught. She had never seen Angella the way she saw when she gave her an angry look and screamed at her, "Why are you standing there, She-ra? You have to save her".
She-ra laid a hand on Angella's shoulder and said to her, "Angella, she's gone. There is nothing anybody can do".
Angella knocked She-ra's hand away from her and cried, "Get away for me!"
She-ra stepped back, giving Angella some space. She broke down into uncontrollable sobs as she realized her friend and ally was dead.
Angella cradled Glimmer's head in her arms, kissed her forehead, and said, "I love you, Sunshine. Mommy loves you so much."
Angella looked at Glimmer's face. She did not want to accept that her only child was dead. Glimmer was her pride and joy. The sweet little baby she had carried and given birth to was gone.
"Oh, Glimmer, my sweet child. Please don't leave me", sobbed Angella.
Angella held Glimmer's head to her chest and cried out, "No! Why have you done this to me? How could you take my child from me?"
…To be continued
