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birindale · 3 months

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Bow wanders by a tea party and is opportunistically kidnapped, SweetBee steals Glimmer's gimmick, and She-Ra obliquely threatens to cut off Entrapta's head.

Transcript/Image ID below the cut

[Image Description: 14 comic pages from the She-Ra mini-comic, “A Born Champion”.

Cover: SweetBee descends from the sky, her wings glowing and sparkling as She-Ra holds a welcoming hand out to her. At the top of the page, the Princess of Power (trademark symbol) logo sits on a flat purple sky. A fuzzy orange and magenta landscape in the foreground blends into a featureless mass behind the girls. Two lumps of hard material which are probably supposed to be cliffs or mountains or something but are colored like glaciers mark the skyline behind them. At the bottom of the page "A BORN CHAMPION" is stamped in dark blue and outlined in white. Below it, the copyright text reads, "Illustrations (copyright symbol) Mattel, Inc. 1985 Hawthorne, CA 90250 U.S.A. PRINTED IN TAIWAN. All Rights Reserved. (registered trademark symbol) and TM designate U.S. trademarks of Mattel, Inc."

Page 1: A desaturated, pale pink caption box reads, "It was daybreak and SweetBee buzzed about her hive. Passing by, Bow stopped to chat. "I'm scouting Etheria for signs of trouble," he said. "Will you be back by sunset?" SweetBee asked. Bow nodded and SweetBee watched him go. "If only I could be a hero brave as he!" she sighed." Thanks for the feminism as always, Tina. The illustration shows Bow, who's toy-accurate except for having both hands, making conversation with a flying SweetBee. There's no hive around, but they do appear to be at the foot of the Crystal Castle.

A yellow caption box reads, "PRODUCED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MATTEL BY: WRITER — TINA HARRIS, PENCILER — JIM MITCHELL, INKER — TODD KUROSAWA, COLORIST — CHARLES SIMPSON, EDITOR — JOAN DUMBAULD & LEE NORDLING". God, how did I forget about Joan. Why would you keep the name "Dumb-old".

End Page 1.

Page 2: Another desaturated pink caption box reads, "Meanwhile, inside her new tree-plex in the Valley of the Lost, Catra was busy entertaining. She and Entrapta sipped their tea while Clawdeen munched a crumpet. Suddenly, a twig snapped in the woods below." Entrapta lounges on a plush teal and amethyst bed, legs dangling over the edge, Catra lying prone beside her (and actually wearing her gloves for once! Good job, Skip!) They're both holding steaming cups of tea. The room appears to be a hollowed-out tree, a window showing several strangely shaped trees outside. Clawdeen, the pink lion, is watching Catra and Entrapta with a rather crudely-drawn crumpet in her mouth. She has a sparkling blue-and-yellow collar and some kind of garland draped over her mane for some reason.

"What was that?" asks Clawdeen as she and Catra look around suspiciously. Damn, she ate that crumpet fast.

"Look, it's Bow!" says Catra. She and Entrapta peer out the window, which is honestly just a tree hollow. Bow is indeed passing by beneath them, having made incredible time on circumnavigating Etheria, apparently. Look the Crystal Castle has been out for a full year now there's no reason they couldn't consult the map sticker. I'm just saying.

End Page 2.

Page 3: ""He can tell us the secret of She-Ra's power!" Catra cried. Entrapta called to Bow from the balcony. Bewitched by her golden glow, he stepped toward her. Letting loose her lovely hair, she trapped him in its tangles." So I guess there's a tree-balcony now. Entrapta wraps Bow in her hair, which is pink and purple, and can still move on its own. Her armor is gold, although it's not really colored to be as reflective as the plating on the toy is so it's—like that would hit better if you had the doll in front of you, I think. Catra just kind of stands there. Bow has his left hand behind his back, as though he'd gone to draw an arrow.

"Ha! Ha! Good work, Entrapta!" says Catra, smiling wickedly with Clawdeen. Hm. No mask in sight I notice.

End Page 3.

Page 4: A pale pink caption box reads, "The day passed quickly and SweetBee noticed it was getting dark. Bow was late and she began to worry." Sweetbee is tending to a small garden, trowel in hand, and looking over her shoulder with some concern. A climbing vine bearing some kind of fruit snakes its way up a climbing stick beside her. The sun is getting low in the sky, though it hasn't yet set.

"Bow could be in trouble. I must find him!" she says.

End Page 4.

Page 5: A pale purple caption box reads, "SweetBee took to the air at once. She searched Etheria for many miles. Reaching the dark edge of the Valley of the Lost, she pressed on. Catra's tree-plex appeared suddenly below her." We see SweetBee soaring over a sprawling landscape, a huge forest bordered by steep mountains. Everything has an orange tint, which may indicate that it's now officially sunset, as the sky is too filled with beautifully-colored clouds to be sure, or just that Skip Simpson was really feeling orange this issue. A tree riddled with hollows stands out bright yellow in a clearing amongst the trees, in what must have been a discarded toyset, right? They're plugging it more than the Crystal Castle. Perhaps it was intended to adapt Justine Dantzer's proposed 'Topaz Tree Home' idea? But alas, it was never made.

End Page 5.

Page 6: A pale pink caption box reads, "SweetBee landed softly on the rooftop. She peered in through the skylight. Bow was trapped inside! Carefully she moved away and magically turned her wings from bright yellow into a powerful pink light…" Well, there's not really a roof, as it's a tree. But she is up above them. Entrapta has tied Bow to a tree with her hair, and Catra has one hand resting on his shoulder and the other balled up on her hip, literally talking down to him. Clawdeen looks on with a smile. There's an abstract painting hanging on the wall.

"... sending out a signal for help!" Seriously? THIS gets to be a dialogue balloon? Whatever. SweetBee is posing with her wings flared, as they flash bright pink. For context, her toy had reversible wings—one side gold glitter, the other pink and glow-in-the-dark. It's not super original, since Flutterina has wings and Glimmer glows in the dark, but they're… there. They are there.

End Page 6.

Page 7: A pale pink caption box reads, "From Crystal Castle's mighty throne, Princess Adora spotted the beacon light. Quickly, she decoded SweetBee's urgent message." Adora and Spirit are standing on top of the Crystal Castle. The throne (which is also an elevator) is up there with them, though it's gold instead of blue. If you really squint, the Crystal Castle's facade kind of looks like a skull. If skulls had big glass doors instead of teeth. And turrets. With shingles. It does seem to be getting later at least—the sky is beginning to turn this lovely indigo, and the clouds are a rosy orange. A sprite is whizzing around the castle, and Adora points at it as Spirit stands behind the throne. A slightly inaccurate flag is flying from the parapets.

"Spirit, Bow's in terrible trouble!" says Adora. "We must leave at once!"

End Page 7.

Page 8: With a big dramatic burst of light, Adora and Spirit become Starburst She-Ra and Crystal Swift Wind, refracting all kinds of colors. The throne is still gold instead of blue, and it looks like they didn't realize the shield could be detached when drawing it.

"Fear not, SweetBee! Help is on the way!" says She-Ra, from Swift Wind's back. Skip did a great job coloring this one to make Swifty look like he was actually made of crystal and not just lit from below, everyone say thank you Skip.

End Page 8.

Page 9: Another pale pink caption box reads, "Swift Wind sailed through the night. They circled Catra's tree-plex and landed with a gentle thud. SweetBee moved to greet them. Bow heard his friends up on the roof. Shuffling about noisily, he whispered to himself, "No one must know help has finally arrived."" Well, it's super not nighttime. Now I know what you're thinking, wouldn't making it dark out desaturate the bright colors which draw the children's eye? And yeah if it were realistic, but you can just make a dark blue sky and call it a night (heheh) in these things. They do it all the time in this very franchise. Anyway. We see Swift Wind landing, She-Ra on his back. SweetBee looks up from where she's evidently been hiding on the 'roof' of the tree-plex.

"Quiet, you!" says Entrapta, gripping Bow's shoulder where he's still tied to the chair. In the foreground, Catra and Clawdeen are curled up and napping on the big comfy bed. It's pretty adorable.

"Disturb my friends' catnaps and they'll have both our heads!" says Entrapta.

End Page 9.

Page 10: A pale pink caption box reads, "Crashing through the skylight, She-ra took Entrapta by surprise. "And if you don't let go of Bow, I'll have yours—with all its lovely locks!" "No!" Entrapta cried. Clutching her braids, she fled into the night."

Catra and Clawdeen are waking up, Catra angry and Clawdeen… disoriented, as She-Ra leaps down through the hole in the ceiling. Entrapta clutches her hair defensively. Her outfit is much more appropriately reflective this time, though it still doesn't scream 'metallic'. It's pretty. Bow smiles at She-Ra in apparent relief.

"You think you've outsmarted me? Just try to find your way back to Crystal Castle!" says Catra, blasting us with some kind of pink sparkle.

End Page 10.

Page 11: A pale pink caption box reads, "Catra sprang to Clawdeen's back and hissed a dire warning. "The Valley of the Lost's secrets are mine. Without them, you will remain trapped here forever!" Then, in a flurry of furry pink, she and Clawdeen disappeared." Catra sits on Clawdeen's back amidst a huge cloud of smoke and sparkles as Bow and She-Ra look on. Maybe the garland thing on Clawdeen's head is supposed to be her bow? It doesn't translate well to photograph so they may have misinterpreted it as a rope-crown thing or something.

End Page 11.

Page 12: Whoa. Okay, everything is upside down now. A pale pink caption box reads, ""What a different forest this is!" Bow cried. "Catra has turned everything upside down!" Swift Wind shook his head. "She-Ra, I can't make hide nor hair of this. I've lost all sense of direction. How will we get home?"" She-Ra, Bow, SweetBee and Swift Wind all look around them in apprehensive confusion.

"A bee's homing instinct is very strong. I can find Crystal Castle. Come on, we'll make a beeline for home," says SweetBee.

End Page 12.

Page 13: A pale pink caption box reads, "And at their journey's end, the weary travelers found themselves at home once more." Swift Wind flies after a glowing SweetBee, Bow and She-Ra on his back. It is still not visibly nighttime, and the cliff under the Crystal Castle is much higher than it was in the beginning of the issue. I feel like this would have been fixed by some rescaling. Looking at you, Tim.

"SweetBee! You saved the day!" says Bow, as they all land in front of the castle.

"I never thought that just being myself would make a hero out of me!" says SweetBee.

End Page 13.

Page 14: SweetBee kneels before She-Ra, who holds the Sword of Protection to her shoulder as though knighting her. Bow and Swift Wind look on with big smiles. A pale pink caption box reads in the red 'moral' font, "She-Ra laughed and smiled. "Why, SweetBee! Everyone has some special talent to offer. It's when you put your talent to work that you become a champion. Helping others with your power is what makes you a true Princess of Power!"" Which like, I don't think that ALL needed to be in red. Also, Bow's stomach is blue. He wears a crop top, Skip. Get used to it.

End Page 14.

End ID]

#motu #minicomics #a born champion #sweetbee #sweet bee #shrug emoji #she-ra #bow #clawdeen #catra #entrapta #adora #spirit #swift wind

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yourfellowhuman07 · 10 months

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Alliances of the Heart

A She-Ra: Princess of Power 2018 fanfiction

For centuries, the All Princess Ball has been a time for the nobility of Etheria to let loose. Flaunting their power, prestige, and fashion for all to see. The ball had always been politically neutral, but, as tension from the war rises, not everyone is so keen to forget what happens beyond the walls of Castle Chill.

Lord Hordak, along with Princess Scorpia and Force Captian Catra, have come to the party to make alliances and find out everything there is to know about their enemies. Careful to not arouse the suspicion of the Princess Alliance.

Princess Entrapta, being the scientist she is, decides to come to the party to decode the secrets of body language, despite getting the same data from every other party she has ever attended.

When the two rulers cross paths, their plans flip on their heads as the two grow closer. Now it is up to Catra and Scorpia to push the two together as Adora and Glimmer stick their noses where they do not belong.

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Hi everyone. Sorry about not posting this earlier today, stuff came up. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter.

It has also come to my attention that I have been spelling Salineus wrong, so I'll have to take some time to go back and fix that. Also, the map I'm creating should be finished in maybe two days, depending on my mood.

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Chapter 4: What Are We?

“Ok,” Adora dropped a pad of paper onto the table. “Here are the notes I made on Lord Hordak and Princess Entrapta’s intera- where is Bow?”

“I don’t know.” Glimmer buried herself further into the armchair. “Probably having fun with his new best friend Perfuma.” Adora rolled her eyes. Recalling how Catra acted whenever Adora spent time with anyone else, and how Catra would whine until Adora spent time with her, neglecting everyone else in the process.

“Whatever. Let’s see, Lord Hordak was seen dancing with Princess Entrapta well after the two should have separated. Lord Hordak has always been known to be a stickler for the rules, so this must be a big enough deal that he would engage in such a ‘flagrant breach of conduct’.”

“Wait didn’t Mermista mention in one of her stupid sea-themed mystery books that the murderer seduced some dutchess to then murder her? Maybe Hordak is trying to charm Princess Entrapta into allying with him and the Horde!”

“Oh please, all Lord Hordak does is yell at people to get away from him. There’s no way he can ‘seduce’ anyone.”

“Well, he must have done something because Princess Entrapta went on the spend the entire rest of the evening with him! The two have probably struck some kind of deal already to unite their forces and crush the rebellion!”

“You’re right. We have to convince Princess Entrapta to join our side.”

“How? Every time we bring up allying our forces she finds some excuse to leave.”

“Then we need to get her in a position where she can’t get away.”

“Can we talk with her tonight?”

“No, I want to make sure of what we are seeing before we do anything. That and we need to figure out the angle in which we need to approach her.”

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Entrapta entered the ballroom for the second night of festivities. She made a beeline for one of the many snack tables, filling her pockets with enough miniature desserts to last the night.

She raked her eyes over the sugared confections laid before her. The best part about parties such as this is the food. Everything was always miniaturized for efficiency, which is why Entrapta loved tiny food. They had small cupcakes dyed blue with snowflake candies sprinkled on. Miniature cookies frosted with floral shapes coated in edible glitter. Moon pies are colored to look like the 12 moons of Etheria. Stacks of macarons in every color of the rainbow. Every type of chocolate a person could think of covers ripe strawberries. Milk chocolate poured out of a miniature fountain. Tables like these were scattered across the ballroom filling the room with the scent of baked goods and chocolate.

“Hi, Princess Entrapta!” Called out Scorpia who was pushing past the other glittering guests.

“Hi Princess Scorpia, where is Catra?”

“Right here,” Catra said, seemingly coming out of nowhere. Catra placed her hand on Entrapta’s shoulder. “How have you been, we barely got to see you last night after you ran off with our boss.”

“Oh, I’m fine. Another night of data to collect. Heh,'' Entrapta's hair slipped Catra’s hand off of her shoulder.

“Hey, Princess Entrapta, what were you and Lord Hordak doing last night,” Scorpia asked, trying to desperately contain a smile.

“Oh, he just told me about the Fright Zone and what to expect when I get there. We told each other about some of the things we have created in the past. He was very nice to me throughout the whole evening” Catra chuckled. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, it’s just the words ‘nice’ and ‘Hordak’ don’t go together.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you must be really special to have him be so nice to you. He’s usually really grumpy and aloof.” Scorpia explained.

As Entrapta’s cheeks began to flush, she pulled her mask down pondering all the meaning Scorpia’s statement could have.

“Well, we better get going. You do have all that important data to collect. Enjoy your evening Princess Entrapta.” At that, the two women left a flustered Entrapta alone.

As her mind raced to find the meaning behind Scorpia’s words, she remembered her fleeting conversation that afternoon with Morella. Was there another reason she wished to ally with Lord Hordak? Even in one evening, they had formed a connection. They both understood each other in ways others could not. She was unable to describe what they had. Were they friends or just acquaintances that understood each other’s interests? In her 29 years of living, she had never met another person who could keep up with her the way he could. Everyone either couldn’t understand what she was talking about and played dumb while desperately trying to change the subject, or they did understand her but didn’t care about her ideas. Hordak has been one of the few people who understood her ideas and saw their potential of them.

Entrapta was brought out of her trance when someone bumped into her. It was Princess Spinerella and Princess Netossa of the Unnamed Kingdom.

“Oh, I’m sorry Princess Entrapta.” Spinerella apologized, putting her hand over her heart.

“It’s ok. I shouldn’t have been standing there for so long. Have you two decided on a name for your new kingdom yet?” Before the marriage of Spinerella and Netossa, their kingdoms were completely separate. Then when they did get married and united the two kingdoms, they had no clue what to name their newfound kingdom; hence, why it has been called the ‘Unnamed’ or ‘Unknown’ Kingdom.

“Not yet, turns out naming a kingdom is harder than it looks,” Netossa admitted. “Speaking of kingdoms, have you decided to join the Princess Alliance yet?”

“I’ve decided to join the Horde.” Entrapta smiled despite the dread that crept up her spine.

“Say what now?”

“Um Princess Entrapta, are you sure about that decision?”

“Yes actually. The Drylian ideals and politics better line up with those of the Scorponi kingdom; furthermore, their economy is better and the wealth is more evenly distributed across the kingdom.” Entrapta prepared herself for the onslaught of criticism.

“I-I um… Very well Princess Entrapta. We are glad your mind has been made up.” Spinerella shot Entrapta a fake smile and lead her wife away into the crowd.

That was weird. Entrapta pulled out her recorder, clicking it on.

“Princess Prom night two, log one: after informing the Princesses Spinerella and Netossa of my newfound political alliances they did not react outright negatively, even though they opposed me joining the Horde. Instead, they expressed their relief at my decision-making. They then made a hasty getaway, a trademark occurrence when I speak about tech to other people. I theorize they were not looking for a conflict or a debate with me so they escaped the conversation as fast as they could. Further analysis will have to be made through gaging the reactions of others when the topic of my allegiances is brought up.”

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Hordak stood off to the side, sipping a glass of wine and listening in on the conversations around him. Thus far, he has gathered Prince Peekablue is a no-show. He saw who he believes is his girlfriend, Princess Sweet Bee, wailing that he, once again, did not come as promised. Which was unfortunate because Hordak was hoping he would be in attendance so he could get him on his side. His powers of foresight could greatly help with the war by predicting what campaigns bore fruit and what campaigns resulted in disaster. Perhaps he could find him another day despite his status as a hermit. He also gathered the Head Sorcerous Castaspella was also not in attendance which he found odd since, according to his sources, she was there at the previous Princess Prom. Perhaps something is happening in Mystacor he was unaware of.

Then something caught his ear. It was the Princesses Netossa and Spinerella of the Unnamed Kingdom whispering something to the Star Sisters. He walked closer to them, trying to look inconspicuous. Staining his hearing to gauge what they were talking about.

“Princess Entrapta has allied herself with the Horde,” Netossa whispered. The three sisters gasped quietly.

“Why would she do that?” Asked the blonde sister.

“Something about their political ideals lining up and having a better economy.”

“Don’t tell anyone I told you this, but I did see Princess Entrapta and Lord Hordak sitting close to each other up in the rafter the other night.” whispered the thinnest sister.

“Perhaps they are having an affair?” The pink-haired sister suggested.

“Perhaps it is none of your business.” Hordak’s crimson eyes pierced through the souls of the five women. Terror froze their faces. They gave small apologies before scampering away.

How dare they speak about Princess Entrapta that was. Fury courses through his veins, boiling his blood. It took him every ounce of willpower in him not to scalp the five women, mounting it on his wall as a warning. He balled up his fists, unaware of the wine glass he broke in his hands until a poor servant came to clean it up.

A wave of embarrassment flooded him, washing out all the rage he felt. Hordak apologized profusely, getting down on his knees to help clean up. This astounded the servant who, while earning the occasional apology, never got help from a royal. After cleaning the area Hordak put a gold coin, twice his daily wage, in the servant’s hands. The servant gave him a swift bow before returning to his post.

Hordak took a deep breath, still modified at his public outburst. He moved to a wall where there were few people. He bit the inside of his cheek as he wallowed in his embarrassment. Why must I act like this? Why did I act like that? Why was I so offended on behalf of someone I barely know? If it was anyone else, say one of his commanders, he would be miffed they were speaking ill of one of his associates; however, he would never react in the way he had just done. An associate is what Entrapta was, so why did simple petty words get such a rise out of him? Perhaps, subconsciously, he saw her as more than a work associate. Perhaps, he saw Entrapta as a friend? Utterly ridiculous! They had just met yesterday how could he have such a bond with her? Even though the two had similar interests, were able to keep up with each other verbally, and understood each other's goals and ideas does not mean they were friends. Were they? Gah! Curse his minuscule emotional range! No matter. He will continue as he did before. He did not want to jump to conclusions without Entrapta’s input.

Speaking of, where had the princess gone? Hordak served the crowd of sparkles, spotting the princess conversating with Scorpia. He was tempted to join the two, but he knew he shouldn’t. Entrapta had a scientific excursion to pursue, and he does not need to be a distraction. Besides, he has his work to do.

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Also, if you want to know who the Star Sisters are, look it up on the Wiki. Aka, the MVP of this fic.