by Tracey West
“That’s right!” Netossa agreed.
Mermista frowned. “I don’t know. Regular people can’t learn princess stuff, can they?”
“They don’t need to learn princess stuff,” Perfuma said. “When the Horde was attacking Plumeria, Adora, Bow, and Glimmer inspired the people of my kingdom to fight back. They did a great job!”
“They did,” Adora agreed. “But that was just a small group of Horde soldiers that day. I’m just not sure we could compete against the whole Horde army.”
“Adora’s got a point,” Frosta said. “We need something special that the Horde doesn’t have, like our Princess Power.”
She gazed around the room, stopping at Swift Wind. “Like Swift Wind! Imagine if we all had talking, flying horses like him! The Horde would never stand a chance against us.”
“I’m flattered, Frosta, but you know that I’m one of a kind,” Swift Wind said. “I’m the only talking, flying creature on Etheria, thanks to Adora’s sword.”
“It’s a nice thought, Frosta, but it’s not very practical,” Adora said.
Queen Angella spoke up. “It’s quite possible that Swift Wind is not the only magical creature on Etheria,” she said.
Swift Wind looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Just outside the kingdom, there are the remains of a First Ones building with an interesting mural on it,” the queen explained. “It shows an island of animals. Scholars who have tried to translate the wall think that these creatures might have magical powers. They might not be flying horses, but maybe they could be helpful. I believe that Frosta’s idea has some merit.”
Frosta beamed. “I knew it!”
“Magical creatures?” Adora asked. “You mean like the Elementals?”
Adora had fought her share of Elementals before. They guarded First Ones sites all over the planet. They were dormant until they detected intruders—and then they attacked.
Queen Angella shook her head. “No, they appear to be magical versions of ordinary Etherian creatures,” she replied.
Bow piped up. “Adora can read First Ones language,” he said. “We should go to the mural and check it out.”
“I’ll go, too,” Glimmer offered.
“I like this plan!” Swift Wind said. “Imagine if there really is an island of magical creatures somewhere. Maybe they’ll join my cause and help me liberate the animals of Etheria!”
“That’s a nice idea, Swift Wind, but before we can free your horse friends, we’ve got to defeat the Horde,” Adora pointed out.
“Nice idea? Seriously? Is that what you think of my life’s work?” Swift Wind asked. “It’s really important to me, Adora.”
“I know that!” Adora shot back. “I know it’s important. It’s just that—” She sighed. Why did everything she say to Swift Wind always come out wrong?
“So are we going to find the island, or not?” Frosta asked.
Adora turned to the queen. “Bow, Glimmer, and I will go to the mural and come back with a report.”
“And Swift Wind,” the horse added.
“You’re always included. I just meant—” Adora sighed again. “And Swift Wind.”
Queen Angella nodded. “Excellent. I’ll get you a map showing the location of the ruins. While you do that, the rest of us will further discuss the recruitment initiative.”
Bow jumped up. “The Best Friend Squad is on it!”
“Guess I’ll fly ahead and meet you guys there,” Swift Wind said.
Adora grinned and held up a rolled-up piece of paper. “Not this time,” she said. “I’ve got the map.”
“Hmph. Walking’s no fun when you can fly,” Swift Wind muttered.
“Yeah, when I lost my powers, it was so frustrating not being able to teleport,” Glimmer said. “But I like walking because then I get to spend time with my friends.”
Friends. It made Adora happy every time she realized she had made so many friends since she’d left the Horde. She counted Swift Wind as one of them, although the two of them still hadn’t bonded yet. She knew that as much as Swift Wind liked his transformation, it had been a real shock to him, and he was still trying to get used to it.
“Anyway, it’s not far to the ruin,” Adora said. “It’s just a little farther to the east.”
“Fine,” Swift Wind said, and with a swish of his orange tail, he trotted ahead of them.
“He really is an amazing horse,” Glimmer remarked, watching him.
“Yeah, he’s the best,” Bow agreed.
“I know,” Adora said. “It’s just …”
“Just what?” Glimmer asked.
Adora lowered her voice. “I haven’t figured out how to really work with him yet. When I’m riding him, we need to work together. But when I want to go right, he wants to go left.”
“Kind of like me and Glimmer,” Bow remarked.
Glimmer’s purple eyes flashed. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we’re different,” Bow said. “You’re messy, and I’m neat. You flip out easily, and I’m pretty chill. You’re loud, and—”
“Okay, I get it,” Glimmer interrupted him. “What’s your point?”
“My point is that we’re best friends. We have a bond. So none of those things matter. When we team up, we can do anything,” Bow said.
“Aw, that is so sweet!” Glimmer said, hugging his arm.
“Yeah, sweet,” Adora said absently, glancing up at Swift Wind. Will we ever be a great team, like Bow and Glimmer? she wondered. Will we ever bond?
That’s when she saw the blinking red light up ahead on the forest floor.
“Swift Wind, stop! Stop!” she yelled, running toward him.
Swift Wind stopped and turned back to her. “What now?”
Adora stepped in front of him and pointed behind her. “That red light—it’s a Horde laser grenade. It must have dropped off one of their tanks when they retreated.”
“Can we disarm it?” Bow asked.
“They’re tricky,” Adora said. “I know a safer way.”
She slowly approached the weapon—a blinking red light embedded in a metal dome the size of an apple. Holding her breath, she picked it up—and then she tossed it as far as she could.
BOOM! The explosion rocked the forest, moving the earth under their feet.
“That was the safest way?” Bow asked.
Adora shrugged. “Everyone’s okay, right?”
Her friends nodded.
“Thanks, Adora,” Swift Wind said. “I might have stepped right on that thing.”
“You’re welcome,” Adora replied.
“Although it proves my point. Flying is better than walking!” the horse added.
“Walking is safe, if you look where you’re going,” Adora muttered.
“I’m sorry, did you say something?” Swift Wind asked.
“Nothing,” Adora replied. “You’re right. Flying is better than walking sometimes. And sometimes walking is better. Like if you want to sneak up on somebody.”
“Who are we trying to sneak up on?” Swift Wind asked.
“Nobody,” Adora replied. “I just meant—”
Glimmer interrupted her. “Adora, are we almost there?”
Adora looked at the map. “It’s not much farther now.”
They continued through the woods for a few minutes more, and then they saw it: the crumbling remains of a circular First Ones building.
“Any sign of Elementals?” Bow asked.
“This place is small,” Adora said, drawing her sword. “But if any show up, I’ll be ready.”
They stepped inside. Adora felt a slight chill go up her spine, as it did every time she entered a First Ones building. Sunlight streamed through cracks in the ceiling, lighting up the walls. They were overgrown with vines, but the lines of the mural peeked through them. Adora began to pull away the plants, and Glimmer and Bow helped.
“Wow!” Glimmer exclaimed.
The ancient painting depicted what definitely looked like
an island, covered with trees and flowers. There were animals drawn all over it. At first glance, they looked like regular animals, but as the friends looked closer, they began to notice strange details.
“That sloth there looks like it’s floating,” Bow remarked, pointing.
“And that porcupine looks like it’s doing martial arts,” Glimmer added.
“I don’t see any flying horses, though,” Swift Wind remarked.
Adora scanned the scene until she found First Ones writing scrawled across the bottom. It looked like a bunch of strange symbols, but when Adora held the sword and looked at the words, they made sense in her head.
“ ‘The energy on Arcana Island has had a strange effect on the creatures there. They have all developed unusual powers,’ ” Adora read aloud.
“Unusual powers? That doesn’t sound so impressive,” Swift Wind remarked. “Maybe the animals are just weird.”
“The word in the First Ones language can mean the good kind of unusual, too,” Adora pointed out. “Just like you’re a good kind of unusual.”
Swift Wind frowned. “You think I’m unusual?”
“In a good way,” Adora repeated. “I mean, you’ve got awesome rainbow wings! And you can talk. That’s unusual, right?”
Glimmer spoke up. “This island sounds promising. But how do we get there?”
Bow pulled away some more vines. “Check it out! I think this is a map.”
He was right. It was a map of Etheria, with an island painted gold in the middle of a large lake in the southeast.
Bow used his tracker device to snap a picture of the map. “Got it!”
“Great!” Adora said. “I think we got what we came for. Let’s go report back to Queen Angella.”
They hurried back to the castle, and Adora gave the report.
“Unusual animals?” Mermista repeated. “Doesn’t that mean they’re just weird?”
“That’s what I said,” Swift Wind said.
“The First Ones word I translated can mean good unusual. Like extra strong or powerful,” Adora replied.
“This is worth pursuing,” Queen Angella said. “But we still have Horde robots roaming these woods. Some of us will have to stay behind to deal with them.”
Frosta’s hand shot up. “I want to go to the island!”
“Spinnerella and I don’t mind staying,” Netossa replied.
“Sure,” Spinnerella agreed. “I’ll blow down the robots with my wind powers, and Netossa can stop them in their tracks with her magical nets.”
“Excellent,” Queen Angella said. “Mermista, Frosta, and Perfuma, you can accompany Adora, Glitter, Bow, and Swift Wind to Arcana Island.”
“All right!” Swift Wind cheered. “Let’s go put together an army of magical creatures!”
“What are those things the Horde flies around on?” Glimmer asked. “Skiffs?”
Adora nodded. “That’s right. Skiffs.”
“Bright Moon needs to get some of those,” Glimmer said. “We’ve been walking forever!”
“This is why we all need our own magical creatures,” Frosta said. “Then we could all fly around like Adora and Swift Wind.” She paused and turned to Adora. “Why aren’t you flying there ahead of us?”
“Because princesses need to stick together,” Adora said firmly.
“Princesses and their friends,” Bow added.
“Of course! And their friends,” Adora agreed.
“I don’t mind walking,” Perfuma said. “Walking is good for the mind and spirit as well as the body. And I’m seeing plants I’ve never seen before! Isn’t that flower beautiful?” She pointed to a red bloom growing by a tree.
Bow reached down and plucked it out of the ground. “Here you go,” he said, handing it to her with a smile.
She held up her hand to stop him. “It’s called Poison Peony, Bow,” she said. “You might want to put it down. It’s beautiful, but dangerous.”
“Ahhhh!” Bow tossed the flower aside. “Thanks for the warning.”
Mermista yawned. “Are we going to, like, camp out or something? It will be dark soon.”
Adora nodded. “Sure. We’ll make camp in the next clearing we see.”
“Camping, yes! It’ll be like an outdoor sleepover,” Frosta said.
“We’ll have to take turns keeping watch,” Adora told her. “There could be Horde soldiers out here.”
“I’d be surprised,” Glimmer remarked. “We’re far from Bright Moon. The Horde hasn’t been spotted in this part of Etheria for years.”
“The Horde hadn’t attacked Bright Moon for years, either,” Adora reminded her, and Glimmer’s face darkened. “Sorry. We just need to take precautions.”
About an hour later they reached a clearing and began to set up camp.
“Look, wild mint!” Perfuma cried. “I’ll make us some tea.”
“I’ll find some water,” Mermista offered.
By the time the sun set, they were all seated on bedrolls around a crackling campfire, eating rations they’d brought with them from Bright Moon and drinking Perfuma’s tea.
“I still don’t believe what Bright Moon rations are,” Adora remarked, looking down at her plate. “Cookies? Fruit? Sandwiches in the shape of bunnies?”
“And I can’t believe that you used to eat gray food bars all the time,” Glimmer shot back.
“Sometimes they were green. Or brown,” Adora said. “But don’t get me wrong. Bright Moon rations are way better!”
Bow yawned. “It’s been a long day. We should go to sleep soon. Want me to take first watch?”
“I’ll do it!” Frosta offered, but she yawned, too.
“I’m not sleepy yet,” Adora replied. “I’ve got it. I’ll wake Bow up in two hours, and you can take third watch, Frosta.”
“I’ll do the watch with Frosta,” Glimmer offered, and Frosta smiled. “Wake me up, too, Bow.”
“I’ll try,” Bow said. “But waking you up isn’t easy. Remember that time I had to dump ice water on you?”
“I do, and I am still planning my revenge,” Glimmer answered. “Don’t worry. I’ll wake up.”
Adora turned to Swift Wind. “Do you want to keep watch with me?” she asked, hoping he would say yes. Maybe with some time alone, the two of them could finally begin to get to know each other better.
“Sure,” Swift Wind said, but then he opened his mouth and gave the biggest yawn Adora had ever seen. She noticed that his eyes were drooping.
She patted his head. “Never mind, Swift Wind,” she said. “Get a good night’s sleep.”
“Thanks, Adora,” Swift Wind replied, and he gratefully sat down and closed his eyes.
A short while later, Adora was perched on top of a large rock, gazing into the surrounding woods while Bow, the princesses, and Swift Wind peacefully slept around the fire. Her Horde training ran through her mind, and she could hear Commander Cobalt’s voice in her memory: When you’re keeping watch, do it W-E-L-L!
W: Wait patiently at your post until you are relieved. Don’t wander off.
E: Empty your mind. Don’t let your mind wander, either.
L: Look for lights or movements in the trees. Keep your eyes on your surroundings.
L: Listen for unusual sounds.
She had to admit that her Horde training still came in handy. Horde soldiers didn’t have magical powers like the princesses did, but they were a skilled fighting force, and Adora had been one of their best.
She glanced at the campfire.
It’s a good thing we’re not being followed, she thought absently. That campfire would definitely give away our location.
That thought made her sit upright. She hadn’t been acting like a Horde soldier on this journey. They had made no effort to cover their tracks. Before going to bed, they’d been talking loudly. She was sure their voices must have carried through the woods. And now this fire—the smoke could probably be seen for miles.
She scanned the woods all around her, listening and focusing carefu
lly.
Flash! She saw lights shine in the forest. Two small lights, one blue and one yellow. Adora blinked, and they disappeared.
Blue and yellow. Like Catra’s eyes, Adora thought, but they couldn’t be, could they? There was no way Catra could have known about this mission they were on. Adora hadn’t noticed any signs of them being followed, though they could have been more careful …
“I must be seeing things,” she muttered hopefully, trying to convince herself, and then she yawned. “Time to wake up Bow.”
“No way. Seals are not cuter than penguins,” Frosta was arguing.
“Of course they are,” Mermista said. “They can bark and clap their flippers together. What’s cuter than that?”
It was the next morning, and the travelers had returned to their path shortly after sunup. They had emerged from the woods and were walking across the rocky foothills of a low mountain range.
Now it was almost noon, and they were struggling for ways to pass the time. Frosta and Mermista had been debating about cute animals for the last hour. Bow had started counting his steps.
“Four thousand fifty-eight, four thousand fifty-nine …”
Perfuma was walking with her eyes half-closed and a peaceful smile on her face. Adora was shocked that she didn’t bump into anything.
Adora and Glimmer were walking side by side, talking. They hadn’t been friends for very long, and they still had a lot to learn about each other. Glimmer always had questions about the Horde.
“So Catra is a force captain. And now she’s always with Scorpia, who has white hair and those big claw thingies, right? Is she a force captain, too?” Glimmer asked.
“I think she calls them pincers, actually, but yes, Scorpia is a force captain, too,” Adora said. “Being made force captain is a pretty big deal when you’re a Horde soldier.”
Glimmer nodded. “I get it. Every time I think about you almost being one, I realize how lucky we are that you’re on our side.”
Adora smiled. “I’m just lucky that you and Bow were in the woods that day.”
In front of them, Mermista and Frosta were still arguing.
“Penguins look like they’re wearing clothes,” Frosta countered, turning to face Mermista. “And they waddle!”