Hardships

Unity in Times of Despair

Bow's POV:

"Bow! Do you see that?!", Adora yells before she flings a bot at me. I duck and squeak in surprise before sliding under it and shooting it with my pulse surge arrow and destroying it. I sigh and wipe the sweat dripping off my forehead and looked up at what Adora was looking at and gasped. "A-Adora, do you see the smoke too?!". I ask worriedly looking at her, my eyes widened when I saw the fear and distraught evident in her face. "I-Its the Fright Zone, something's wrong Bow", Adora yells before whistling and calling for Swift Wind. Swift Wind swoops in and Adora hops on, grabbing my hand and pulling me on her mighty steed.

We flew as fast as we can before we heard a loud rumbling that shook the trees. "Adora.. whats going on??", I ask her looking at the distraught land. Before she could answer there was a bright light that erupted from the Fright Zone before Swift Wind, Adora and I were sent backwards when there was a loud and deafening sound broke the peace and quiet of the Whispering Woods. The blast left my ears ringing as I opened my closed eyes. I look around, my eyes widening in horror when we flew over what used to be the Horde's base. I heard Adora's uneven gasps. I saw that the woods surrounding the Fright Zone had been leveled down and burnt down almost to ash. The buildings were on fire an there was ember and ash all around us.

Adora flew down to the ground and landed Swift Wind on the grey, burned plains and rocks. What the hell happened here?! I think to myself letting my eyes roam the entire fallen fortress that once laid here. I soon hopped off Swift Wind and followed Adora to the crowd of sitting soot-covered and frightened Horde soliders. There were children, men and women crying. I looked and saw that there were families and friends huddled together holding the injured to their chests. "Where is Catra? What did she do to this place?! What happened here?", Adora asks in a demanding tone, the shakiness in her voice was evident. I watched intently stepped up when Kyle stepped up, his head bowed down as he gets on his knee and says shakily, "C-Catra's gone. And your Queen friend too". My eyes widened and I felt my heart shatter. I looked at Adora and watched as her shoulders began shaking and she fell on her knees. "What do you mean gone?! She cant be dead. What happened here Kyle", I say worriedly. Kyle stood up and chuckled a bit making Adora and I growl.

He chuckled nervously and said, "Oh no they arent dead. They were snatched up by this green light and I dont know what happened. Last thing I saw was that Catra ran back in and gave Glimmer to Rogelio but Glimmer said something and went back to get Catra and Catra came back out with Lonnie on her back and was covered in ash and soot and Glimmer ran towards her before Catra yelled something at Glimmer and threw Lonnie into Rogelio's arms and then Catra took Glimmer to the ground and then BOOM the Fright Zone exploded. Glimmer then kis-". Rogelio elbowed Kyle in the side and he rubs his arm and says, "Nevermind that part but Catra had fell off Glimmer unconscious. Then the green light appeared over them and they disappeared in thin air". I looked at Adora and I saw the confusion, worry, and fear in her eyes and put a hand on her shoulder, "Whatever happened, they're probably ok. atleast Catra was there to protect Glimmer somewhat".

Adora growls and says, "How do we know Catra didnt plan this? That she didnt kidnap Glimmer to piss me off. That she didnt hurt Glimmer? That she wanted to do something good?! You and I both know shes selfish. That the only reason she does anything is to get back at me or to get the upper hand against the Rebellion. She's cruel and selfish". I sigh and say, "I know Adora. But theres no way Catra wouldve want to blow this place up. It was the only place that accepted her right? It was her birthplace. Yours too. Plus it would do her and the Horde even more damage than the Rebellion. So that wouldn't make sense". Adora sighs and runs a hand over her arms and says, "Ugh, I guess your right. I swear if Catra hurt Glim-". "Actually Glimmer was the one that started it. she came here and took down the guards and then confronted Catra. I would know, I saw Catra flying towards the Control Panel and crashing into it. I knew it was the Queen because of the sparkly pink energy that was launched at Catra as she wasnt sent flying into the control panel. I remember there being a gas leak in the control panel that could lead to a huge and lethal explosion and I had hired an inspector to look at it but I guess I was too late", Kyle says interrupting Adora's sentence.

Adora and I look at eachother with wide eyes and then back at Kyle. "What?! Theres no way that Glimmer couldve done this!", I exclaimed angrily at Kyle. Rogelio roars and Kyle says, "Im not lying, you can ask the guards over there. They were the guards that Glimmer had knocked out to get to Catra". I looked over to the injured guards and lift Adora up from the ground and walked over the the guards. I noticed one of them had a bit of a charred mark with glitter surrounding it. She really did it. "H-Hey? Uh what happened to you guys?", Adora asks chuckling nervously. One of the guards growl and say lowly, "We were attacked by your queen. She said she had to talk to Catra and then before we knew it we were on the floor and Catra was yelling at us and telling us to go that this place was about to blow". I look at Adora and saw how her face became scarily stoic.

"G-Glimmer did this?", She asks softly and I sigh and nod. Adora growls and stands up abruptly and grabs my hand pulling me away from the guards and saying, "They have to be lying. Catra did something. She told them to lie so that we could be manipulated again. We are going to find them and I'll make sure Catra pays for hurting Glimmer and for lying to us to these people". I groan and yell frustratedly, "Do you not see it Adora?! Why would these injured people lie about something like this? Did you not see the mark on that guard's chest? The charred mark with glitter around it? Thats the aftermath of being hit by Glimmer's orbs. You know that". Adora looks at me with wide eyes and she says, "Y-You are taking Catra's side?!".

I growl and grab her by the hand and pulling her to the middle of the field and point at the charred marks and glitter on those guard's chests, heads, arms and legs and say, "Im not on Catra's side Adora. You know that. But you're letting your own emotions against Catra blind you from the truth. I dont trust, respect or like Catra but Glimmer stirred trouble here first. Maybe what she did here was an accident because I know Glimmer wouldnt want do this. But she makes mistakes, like the stunt she pulled with the Heart of Etheria. Or have you forgotten that? And even though Glimmer literally attacked Your and Catra's home. These people's only home. Catra tried to protect Glimmer. She got on top of her to protect her. Dont you see that?". Adora's eyes softened revealing the fact that what I was saying was true. She sighs and her shoulders sag and she says softly, "You're right. But Catra-".

I sigh and put a hand on her shoulder and say, "Lets not worry about that right now. We gotta help these people and send some aid. We need to go back to Brightmoon and try and figure out where in the hell Glimmer and Catra could be, ok?". Adora nods and says, "Lets do this, Adora and Bow style". I smile and nod before Adora carried the horrendously injured people in her arms and had Swift Wind come back and forth, taking them to Brightmoon's infirmary. I led the rest into a hideout bunker Glimmer and I found when we were kids. There was enough space, rooms, medical supplies and food and water to keep these people fed and well for a couple of months until we can figure out this war against Horde Prime.

"Alright everyone! You will all stay here. We need you guys, to be able to fight against Prime. You may-", I was interrupted when I saw people all stand up from their sitting positions and say, "We are with you, we will fight for the good of Etheria". My eyes widened when everyone in the bunker stood up and chanted this. I smile when I felt a hand on my shoulder and turn to be met with a semi-injured Lonnie. "I'll fight with you, we all will", Lonnie says softly getting on her knee shakily and yelling, "Bow down to show your respect and pledge of loyalty to the Rebellion. We must fight together to be strong!". I heard yells of approval and watched as everyone got on one knee and bowed down.

I smile and help Lonnie up before saying, "Thank you all. I apologize for the trauma you all have been through. Im glad we could have you all unite with us as a whole. We will fight Prime together and come out stronger more united in the end. Then we at Brightmoon will help rebuild your homes but in a better way". They all cheer and I felt my heart fill with warmth. If only Glimmer was here to see this.
I left Lonnie and Kyle in charge of the Bunker and made way towards Brightmoon.

We got this. We're coming to rescue you Glimmer.

To be continued...