Azure's POV

After another hour or so of traveling I felt the temperature drop. It was cold, and the woods withered around us.

"Is it just me, or is it really cold?" Bow asked, gingerly tightening his grip on me.

A flake of powdery white snow landed on my wrist, and I shivered.

"It's snowing?" Glimmer asked, and Petra held out a hand herself.

"That's impossible. It never snows in the Whispering Woods" Bow said. There was a burst of air and Bow nearly fell over.

"What's happening?!" I called to no one in particular.

"The Bad thing!" Swift wind called back, bracing against the wind.

It bit my face and stung my nose. Petra stood firm; her feet dug into the earth.

"We can't stay here! Swift Wind, do you sense Adora?!" Bow called over the increasingly stronger onslaught.

Swift Wind vibrated with energy and grunted with concentration.

"There, she's over there!" I looked up to see a beam of light jutting out from the treetops.

Swift Wind pulled us forward, and we entered a small clearing though the trees.

The rocky structure was as familiar as the bug, and we pushed ourselves against the metal door. Bow set me down and started banging on the door. Petra used the stick she had found to jam it in between the seam of the door. I slammed my fists against the door and dug my nails into the seam.

"This would be a great time for my powers to come back!" Glimmer growled, and Petra grabbed onto me, and we pressed our heads together.

"What if Noah, and Faust..." Petra whispered, but I shook my head.

"It'll take more than a windstorm to knock them down." I assured her and wrapped my arms around Petra.

"Wait, wait! I know this. Hang on, I think I can..." Swift Wind said, and pointed his horn instinctively at a section of the strange writing.

It pulsed with the mythical energy that was so familiar to us now. We moved back as the ground below us shuddered and opened. Bow took my hand, and we slid down the ramp, and into the tunnel. I followed Swift Wind and watched as the tunnel flashed a shade of red, and there was screeching, sounding almost mechanical.

"What is that?" Bow squeaked nervously. I tensed at his side, and felt my fangs elongate, and my nails sharpen. My only defense now.

"Uh... this way!" Swift Wind instructed and lead us down another hall.

It opened into a room, and on a crystal-like bed of tech, Adora lay next to her sword, stiff, and unresponsive.

"Adora!" Petra called, and we moved to her side.

"Adora we're here. Wake up!" Bow called down to her as we gathered around her.

"I think I can reach her. Hold on." Swift Wind lowered his horn above Adora's head, and it glowed faintly.

"Swift Wind?" I asked, but now he too was unmoving.

"Uh... Petra." Bow whispered urgently.

I whipped my head around at the screeching sound. A group of V's lined mechanical eight eyed spiders moved towards us. An involuntarily scream was tipped for each of our throats, but it did not last long. Petra was up and swirling the stick like it was a spear.

"Azure!" She called.

With pain in each step, I leapt up, and kicked off the staff, and was propelled forward, and into a Spider's face. I dug my claws into its eye, and it screeched with pain. Its head pointed upwards just long enough for Petra to locate its weak spot and stab her staff in-between its plates. Bow fired arrows at the others, and I slid to the floor clutching my abdomen, and snarling savagely.

I still swiped my claws, but I was not strong enough to battle them on my own.

The spiders came in waves, pushing forward, and screeching so loudly my head ached. I fell back a bit with Petra who was favoring her ankle. It was sprained, and I felt guilt wash though me. I had been so occupied with having the others notice my improvement, that I forgot that she was hurt too.

I was at her side in an instant and kept her back with me as Bow fired arrow after arrow. Goo trapped a few of the spiders, and nets came in handy too. A few every now, and then would explode too.

"Adora, you're back!" I whirled around to see Adora sitting up, and Glimmer laughing, and crying at the same time.

"Adora, Spiders!" Bow squealed, firing another arrow.

Adora Shot forward and shouted. "For the honor of Gray skull!"

I watched the transformation, and Adora dismantled the last spiders in a flash.

"We have to go!" Petra called, and Adora nodded after hugging us briefly.

"Everyone on Swift Wind." Adora said, and I hesitated.

"You too." Adora said, and we hesitantly got onto Swift Wind, who did not seem to mind the weight.

I wrapped my arms around Bow's middle and leaned into him. Petra was up higher, in-between Adora, and Glimmer.

I did not look up after any of the commands Adora gave Swift Wind, and I would not dare to look down as Swift Wind rose into the chaos of the sky.

"Guys, Look!" Bow pointed, and I carefully looked out at the sky. Dark clouds smothered us, and jolts of lighting flashed across the sky.

"It's not just the woods, It's... its." Glimmer whispered, in a horrified tone.

"It's the entire world." Adora Finished for her.

"Bright Moon." Glimmer gasped quietly.

"Swift Wind hurry!" There was a rush of wind, and I felt a surge of fear shake me.

I stared down into the fog, making out brief shapes of the trees bellow. Noah, and Faust, were nowhere to be seen, and I knew that it was a futile search. They were smart, and they would have gone back to Bright Moon. I knew my brothers, and they would not risk us being unprotected, but as soon as they found out we were gone, all focus would be lost.

"It's coming from the fright zone. Whatever is happening, the Horde is causing it." Adora shouted over the thundering winds.

"The whispering woods are freezing over. What do we do?" Bow asked, and Glimmer shuddered in pain as a glitch racked her body.

"We have to get home. We have to make sure everyone at Bright Moon is okay." Glimmer said, and I nodded.

"If we get back now, we'll have more time to prepare." I said, and Adora nodded, and Swift Wind picked up the pace.

We were tossed around hopelessly, losing any sense of direction we had before.

"Try to keep your eyes on the horizon!" Petra called, and I looked around, only growing dizzier.

"I can't find the horizon!" A Jet of light caught my eye, but it was clear this was not any lighting.

"Look!" Bow pointed at the light column.

"That's Bright Moon! It's the distress beacon." Glimmer said, face turning serious.

"Hang on!" Swift Wind jolted in the direction, and we shot forward.

The blinding light came closer every second, and soon we were landing on the rune stone platform.

Angela was there, and Glimmer hopped off Swift Wind as he landed, and ran up to Angela.

"Mom. What's going on?" Glimmer asked as she hugged her.

"The elements are out of harmony. The Moonstone is using all its power to counteract the cloud of darkness... but it's not enough. It is taking nearly all my strength just to connection with it." Adora stepped forward and transformed back.

"That cloud is coming from the Fright Zone." Adora noted bitterly and did not meet anyone's eyes.

"So, what's our plan? We do have a plan, right? ...Guys?" Bow asked, but no one could give him an answer. I looked away from his gaze as it turned to me.

"The woods are frozen over. There's nothing left to shield Bright Moon from the Horde." Petra said.

"We have to prepare for an attack." Adora said, and Angela nodded.

"The council room, now." She commanded, and we headed down.

Once inside the palace, we headed into the council room, and I saw Noah pacing, while Faust was standing beside a chair, slumped over on the table.

"Petra." Noah gasped, and ran over to Petra who leapt into his arms.

There was a kiss or two, and Faust walked over to me, taking me into his arms, and hugging me tightly. I buried my head in his chest as his heartbeat miles faster than the others around me.

"Thank the Moons you're safe." Noah said and hugged me. I then pressed my head against his chest and nodded.

"I move the council to order." Angela said after a moment, and we took our seats.

"Our scouts reported sighting the entire Horde army in the woods. Moving towards us at top speed." Bow read as a general stood near him.

"We must Protect Bright Moon at all costs. If the moonstone is destroyed, there will be nothing left to stop the darkness." Angela said gravely, and I braced against the table, feeling faint.

My head roared with a white fuzz, but I kept my focus strong, and composed myself.

"Someone must have seen the distress beacon by now, why anyone hasn't come?" Bow asked, a hidden anger bubbling up.

"The alliance is broken, and the other princesses have their own kingdoms to protect. No one's coming Bow." Adora informed him, but the hurried footsteps in the hall said otherwise.

"Someone's come!" A guard cried bursting in.

"Is it the princesses?" Bow asked giddily. The guard moved aside, and two princesses moved from behind her.

"Oh... Spinerella, and Netossa! Thanks for coming guys." Bow chuckled nervously, obviously hiding disappointment.

"You still don't know what we do, do you?" Netossa asked, sounding slightly offended.

"Uh... no" Bow mumbled.

"Seriously? It's in the name Net-tossa." No response from Bow.

"Nets! I toss nets, okay!?" Netossa exclaimed angrily.

"Yes, you have wonderful nets." Spinerella said giving Netossa a side hug.

"At least you have powers, which is more than I've got. But it does not matter, I don't need magic to fight." Glimmer said bravely.

"Glimmer, not only are you without your powers, but you're glitching, it's too dangerous." Angela warned.

"But mom..." Glimmer began to protest, but Adora stepped in.

"Your mom is right Glimmer. I don't want any of you risking yourselves, She-Ra can do this alone, it's what she's for." Adora said, raising her voice.

"Adora, not even She-Ra can't take out an army of Horde soldiers all on her own." Faust said, but Adora burst.

"Then what good is she?" No one spoke, and instead Faust sighed, and sat down.

"The last time one of us thought we could do something alone, it cost us our brother. We cannot risk losing other's right now. There is a reason Wolves travel in packs. We can't do things alone." Faust said loud enough for the others to here but kept still.

"It's not in our nature, and I won't lose a friend." I said, and I felt Petra's hand on my shoulder.

There was movement, and Adora briskly walked out.

Bow moved to me. "I think you should get some rest. You're still healing."

I nodded, and looked to Petra, and my brothers.

"You'll all get some sleep too, I hope?" I asked, and then turned to face Bow, and the others.

"Yeah Azure, we'll all get some rest." Bow said, and leaned down with a quick, but soft kiss to my forehead.

It was so fast no one saw, and then he helped me stand. Petra linked her arm in mine, and we lead each other out. I made a quick glance back towards the others were had already busied themselves in preparation.