Standard Disclaimer: Alex and courtnie are mine and everyone else belongs to Filmation -- K.
Holiday Cheer
"Brr" Courtnie rubbed her arms under the heavy cloak. It had snowed in the Whispering woods. "This is gonna suck. Winter in the great outdoors!" She saw Glimmer across the clearing. Glimmer waved at her.
"I’d wave back but I might freeze!" Glimmer smiled. The winter was never very hard in the woods, but it snowed a little, enough to tell the time of year by. Courtnie just wasn’t used to it. "Cold?" Glimmer asked.
"Yes!" Courtnie growled through clenched teeth. "If jarhead the wonder chicken tries anything today he's’ gonna be sorry –I’ll be so pissed I’ll rip his damned nads off"
"Whatever." Glimmer looked around "Where’s your sidekick?"
"Asleep as usual. I think I’ll go remedy that right now. If I have to be cold and miserable, so does she!" Courtnie packed a good - sized snowball and headed into the hut she shared with Alex. They were used to living together, and it was nice, since they were still strangers in a strange land, so to speak. She stood at the entrance and took aim at the lump of covers on the other bed. Courtnie’s bed was neatly made, while Alex’s was never made – since she used it so often. Courtnie lobbed the snowball. It scored a direct hit on Alex’s face—the only part of her exposed. She screamed and jumped out of the bed. "You little – Fuck it’s cold!"
"There’s snow on the ground!" Courtnie exclaimed.
"Really!!! ALL RIGHT!!" Alex was dressed in a matter of minutes. She threw on a similar cloak to everyone else’s and bounded out into the frosty crispness. "Ahh!" Courtnie followed at a more sedate pace. Alex liked snow, for some unknown reason. There were more people about now, including Adora and Bow, who looked strangely at Alex, who was bounding through the snow. "Oh Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree!" she sang. "Hey boss lady, morning!" She bounded around the camp.
Adora looked at Bow. "How old is she?"
Courtnie came over. "I’d like to apologize for the actions of she who is my best friend. Snow does this to her."
"That’s okay. I wonder. . ." Adora trailed off.
"Wonder what Adora?" Bow asked.
"If Mother and Father are celebrating Christmas again this year." Courtnie looked at Adora strangely. "You guys celebrate Christmas?" She asked.
Adora told her about last year, when two children from Earth had come to Eternia by means unknown, and Skeletor and Hordak had tried to kidnap them. They had ultimately been defeated and Eternal had thrown a celebration in the Holday Spirit.
"Don’t tell Alex – she’ll go even more batty!" Adora left to go and try to contact her homeworld. Her mother would probably like to meet Courtnie and Alex, since they were also from Earth. Also, the Etherians had a wonderful time at the party. It would be nice to have again. She pulled her sword our "Sorceress can you hear me?" She asked. The face of the Sorceress wavered into view in the jewel. "Adora. What a coincidence. Adam is here. He was about to ask me to call you."
"Ask him if Mother and Father are celebrating Christmas again this year."
There was a pause. Adora felt bad, having the Sorceress as a mediary, but she was the only one who could talk to her through the sword. "Yes, he wanted to tell you and your friends to come to Eternia. Whenever you are ready, I will transport you all here."
"Thank you Sorceress" Adora went back to camp, where a large snowball war had broken out. The odds were a little unfair, though – everyone against Alex. She was screaming and ducking, and Courtnie and Glimmer attacked from both sides with snowballs. Bow took a handful of snow and dumped it in her hair. "All right, fine!!" Alex yelled. She ran around to the back of the hut and came around the other side with another snowball. She chucked it at Courtnie and rammed it right into her leg "OWCH!" Courtnie screamed. "WHAT WAS THAT?" She looked at the remnants on her leg. "Cheater!! That was a slushball!!" She ran at Alex and tackled her into the snow yelling "Dogpile!" Everyone got the message and piled onto Alex, until she yelled "Uncle!! Monkey!! All right I yield!!" Alex got up. She was snow from head to toe, and beaming. "That was nuts!!"
Adora cleared her throat. "If you children are done now, I have some news." Alex dusted the snow off. Courtnie glared at her. Her leg still stung.
"We are invited to Eternia for a Christmas celebration. We need to decide if we need to leave anyone behind in case of an emergency." Alex’s mouth dropped open "A party? Rock!"
Adora looked at them "I would like you both to come. I want you to meet my mother, as she is also from Earth, although a different Earth than you seem to be from." I want you all to come. Surely Hordak won’t try anything. I know he hates the cold as much as Courtnie does!"
"Alex come on, we’re leaving!"
"I’m coming, gimme a second!"
"NO!"
"Alex let’s go – everyone’s waiting!"
Alex stuffed the last of her things in her bag. She had been trying to pack her laptop without is getting crushed. Adora had told them that Eternia, where they ere going, was more technologically advanced than Etheria. Alex was hoping she could at least get the batteries recharged. She missed playing Doom.
"All right already!’ She ducked out to find Glimmer, Adora, Bow, and Courtnie waiting impatiently, along with a strange man. "Who’s he?" She asked
"Alex!" Courtnie groaned. "You are so rude!"
Adora introduced the man as her boyfriend, Sea Hawk. "Whooooooooo" Alex whistled.
Courtnie nipped up a handful of the fast -melting snow and dropped it down her friend’s back. "You are so immature!" Alex screeched as the cold dripped down the skin of her back.
"That’ll learn ya!" Courtnie looked at her. "Come on I’ll even be nice and give you a ride," she said and patted Wildfire. "Sure, We’ll be nice and give the wacky loon a ride."
"Cute." Alex swung up onto the horse.
The small band of rebel moved out of the woods. They were being watched, but they did not know it.
In the Fright Zone, Shadow Weaver was looking into a ball of magic. "The Rebels are leaving the woods" She hissed.
"Where are they going?" Hordak wanted to know. The rebels were vulnerable when they ere out of the Whispering Woods. He watched in the glowing ball as the group moved out into a clearing, and disappeared. "Interdimensional travel again, eh?" He said, more to himself than anyone else. I have a pretty good hunch where they are going. Weaver, prepare me a portal to Eternia!"
The rebels came out of the portal to a rocky landscape. "Nice." Alex quipped, garnering an elbow from Courtnie.
"The palace is only a short ride from here," Adora said. "My brother should be here to meet us. I wonder where he is?"
Inside Snake Mountain, Skeletor was also watching the new arrivals. "So the princess has come home has she? Well, we’ll make this visit one to remember!" He called for his henchmen. "Prepare the Collector!"
The rebels moved off toward the Palace, hoping that they would meet the prince on the way. Adora couldn’t shake the time Hordak has interfered with the travel and she had found herself in Eternia’s distant past. Presently, a low rumbling could be heard. "Hey is that our ride?" Courtnie called. She looked up to see a massive ship floating above them. "Somehow I don’t think so" she murmured. "What is that?"
"It’s not a Horde ship" Sea Hawk confirmed. "I think I’ve seen most of their fleet!" He was cut short by the laser beams pounding down on them, sending horses and bodies everywhere.
Adora went to find someplace to change, drawing her sword. She-Ra was the only one who had a chance here – Adora well remembered her last run-in with Skeletor. As she drew her sword, however, she didn’t notice the blasts coming closer to her until it was too late. Adora felt herself fly through the air, her sword flying from her hand, the ground coming up to fast. She felt only pain, then, merciful blackness.
The other rebels were not faring well either. The first salvo had scattered them. Alex immediately took to the air, charging up. She fired a blast of fire at the ship, and watched as it was absorbed into the hull. She had heard the horses scream, and was trying to stay out of the dust cloud from their panicked run. On the ground, Courtnie drew her sword and Bow pulled out his bow. Hawk also drew his sword, but until there was someone to fight they were limited in what they could do. Glimmer took off as well, joining Alex in the air. "I didn’t know you could fly" Alex said.
"Well we learn something new every day!" Glimmer said. The conversation was cut short by another burst of laser fire. Glimmer screamed as she came too close and was knocked out if the air. Alex barely managed to get out of the way. She watched as a portal opened on the bottom, too small to be noticed from the ground. Alex saw the chance and took it. As an orange beast and an android – looking think came out on antigrav sleds, Alex slipped in through the opening.
On the ground, the Rebels also saw the two figures emerge. "Two against three." Bow commented.
"I like the odds" Courtnie grinned then took off to try and meet them where they landed. She was about fifty yards away when the laser blasts started up again. She jumped into the bushes fast enough to get out of the range, but Bow and Hawk weren’t so lucky. The blast plowed up tons of dirt, knocking the two men off their feet before they even realized what was wrong. Courtnie looked up, searching for Alex or Glimmer. She needed help. And where was Adora?
Beast Man and Trap-Jaw landed a short distance from where Adora lay, unconscious. Beast Man picked her up and slung her ungracefully over the sled. Trap Jaw looked around for any sign of her sword. "I didn’t see her sword anywhere."
"It was probably destroyed by the laser. Come on, we have what we came for" They prepared to take off.
Courtnie cautiously crawled out of the shrubs she had been hiding in. As she did, another barrage of laser fire rained down, She ran, but tripped on a root, flying as the concussion propelled her through the air. She felt her ankle crack and the huff of air leaving her lungs. She watched helplessly as two creatures took Adora’s limp body up to the ship, and it flew off. Courtnie gasped to try and catch her breath. She sat up and saw a piece of purple fabric hanging on a nearby bush. She crawled over, all she could manage, and found Glimmer’s limp body on the ground. She took her wrist and checked. She still had a pulse. Glimmer stirred and moaned. "Wait," Courtnie whispered. "Don’t move." Glimmer was sufficiently under cover. Courtnie tried to stand up, holding on to a tree for support. She stood, and then pitched to the ground as her ankle gave way. "It’s . . . just . . .a sprain I’m sure," she told herself as she gritted her teeth and crawled out to find the rest of the rebels.
Hordak’s ship came through the portal Shadow Weaver had created. He knew that if Skeletor found the rebels, his prize would be gone before he ever got a chance to try for it. The bastard would take Adora and use her against the King, not realizing she needed to answer for her crimes against the Horde. The traitor would pay dearly for defecting to the rebels. He looked out the window in despair. Here were the signs of a battle, two severely wounded rebels, but no sign of Adora. "Damn him!" Hordak growled. He changed course, headed for Snake Mountain.
Courtnie saw the new ship on the horizon, recognizing this one as a Horde ship. She ducked under a nearby rock, ready to defend her friends as long as she could – which in her state wasn’t going to be very long. But the ship paused, then moved on. "He’s looking for Adora," she thought. She dragged herself over to find that Sea Hawk was waking up. He was dazed but other than assorted bruises and scrapes, in good shape. Bow had taken the brunt of the blast. He was bleeding from a deep cut on his forehead, as well as breathing shallowly and when Courtnie tried to take his pulse, it was thready and irregular. "Shit." She whistled for Wildfire, and heard a faint whinny. She saw the horse a few yards away, bleeding from a forelock. Arrow was fine, and Spirit was gone. "Arrow, come here boy," Courtnie whispered, discovering that it hurt to breathe. The horse trotted over. "We need to get help. Come on." She dragged herself up to the saddle, hunched over, and let Arrow try to find someone to help them.
Adam and Teela were flying the Wind Raider as fast as it would go. Because of Orko’s latest attempts at Christmas magic, the engine had been filled with pine needles. It took Duncan nearly an hour to clean it so it was at least flyable – it was by no means in top shape. Teela noticed the flash of laser fire. "Isn’t that near the place--"
She didn’t need to finish. Adam, in a rare serious moment, banked the Raider and throttled up. As they flew, Adam saw the girl. Hunched over in her saddle she looked like hell. He landed the Raider. "What are you doing!" Teela exclaimed, the saw the girl. "Oh my--" she trailed off.
Courtnie saw the machine land, bracing herself for yet another confrontation. To her surprise, two figures got out; a redheaded woman and a blond young man who looked a little like Adora. "Help," she groaned. "Friends – hurt – Adora –Taken." Was all she could get out before she too, passed out.
Adam and Teela quickly found the rest of the rebel party, and the telltale laser blasts that told of Skeletor’s doings. "He must have taken Adora in all of the confusion. Without lasers or such, they didn’t stand a chance!"
Adam nodded. "We should go back and get help, and take these people to the infirmary."
Teela nodded. "Right." They set to work carefully getting Adora’s friends loaded up. Teela was impressed by how serious Adam was. Apparently Skeletor’s attack on his sister and her friends had shaken him. Adam was worried because he had found Adora’s sword lying on the ground. She had no way to become She-Ra and get herself out of wherever she was. They flew off to the palace to confront the king and queen.
Pain. Courtnie didn’t want to wake up. "Courtnie, come on. Come back" Whose voice was that? How did he know her? Why should she have to wake up? "Come on. It’s time!" She groaned. Okay fine. She tried to sit up and open her eyes. Sea Hawk was standing there, and a man she didn’t recognize. "What happened. I guess I blacked out, huh?"
Yes, you were in shock from a broken ankle that you tried you walk on, and two bruised ribs. I’ve taken care of those, but the ankle has to heal on it’s own. Since you seem to be recovering, I will send you to the room their majesties have readied for you."
"Wait a minute! Who are you, where’s Adora and where am I? And what is going on here?"
"Well," Hawk began. "Adora was apparently taken by someone called Skeletor. Glimmer is recovering nicely and I’m fine. This is the palace of Eternia, and he’s the doctor."
"Where’s Alex –and – What about Bow?" Courtnie had a horrible feeling in her gut.
"We didn’t find her. And Bow is—well, come on." Hawk offered her an arm. She accepted the offer, mostly because the doctor was watching her. Sea Hawk helped her limp to a bed, where Bow was hooked up to all kinds of machinery. "Oh my – "She gasped, tears filling her eyes. What happened? Why was her world crashing down like this? Christmas was supposed to be a happy time! She felt the hot salty tears run down her cheeks. "Come on," Hawk said quietly, guiding her out of the infirmary. As they limped down the corridor, she was struck by a sudden thought. "Where’s Alex?"
"I don’t know – she must have been captured. We didn’t find her."
"I have to go help her!" Courtnie untwined herself from Hawk and limped off down the corridor, running into someone. "Excuse me," She said, pushing past. A hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Shouldn’t you be in bed?"
"Your highness, this is Courtnie. Courtnie, this is King Randor of Eternia."
"Umm. Hi." She tried to bow, but almost pitched forward. Regaining her balance, she limped off. "I have to go."
"Where are you off to?" the King asked, amused. She was so determined, even though she was injured.
"I have to go help Alex. She’s a moron!" Hawk chuckled. What a way to refer to your best friend.
"A rescue party has already gone to get Adora. I didn’t know about your friend, but they will look for her."
"Your highness you don’t understand. Alex is – well – she thinks she’s a lot more than she is. She’s going to try and get out of wherever she is, and get herself killed! I have to go pull her out of the fire as usual!"
"No you don’t." Hawk planted a hand firmly on her shoulder, guiding her into a nearby bedroom. Her clothes and weapons lay neatly in a pile on the bed. Hawk looked at her, then the bed. "All right I get it!" She climbed into bed, and Hawk left the room.
Randor was outside. "Quite an interesting young lady. She’s from Earth, you say?"
"Yes sir."
"They’re all like that – headstrong, impulsive. Why I could tell you . . ."
Courtnie listened as the dialogue trailed off. This was so stupid. Alex was going to get herself killed, and what about Bow. She sat and looked out the window, watching the strange sunset. She really liked Bow, not like she had liked any of her other boyfriends. He was a really great guy, sure he was pompous sometimes, but what man wasn’t? Bow was charming, sweet, good looking. What else could you want? And now he was halfway between life and death, and might never know how she felt! Courtnie dozed off, troubled.
When she woke up, night had fallen. She decided to act. Slipping out of bed, she dressed and slid her belt on, feeling much more comfortable with the weight of her sword on her hip. She quietly slipped out into the dark corridor, limping. The pain wasn’t as bad as she remembered, or was it adrenaline? She slipped into the infirmary. The nurse on duty had fallen asleep at the monitors. "Nice." She thought. She slipped over to Bow’s bedside and slid her hand into his. "Look. I know you probably can’t hear me, but . . ." she gulped back the sob. "I never got a chance to tell you how I felt. It’s so trite, but you really don’t know what you have until you lose it. I don’t know if I’ll be back. I have to go save Alex’s ass you know. I wish you could help me. We’d make a great team you and I." Courtnie looked at Bow’ still, pale form, and leaned over, kissing his forehead. "Get better." She limped out, and ran into a floating thing.
"Hey you’re one of Adora’s friends. You’re hurt."
"Who are you!" Courtnie hissed.
"Orko, the court magician. I better get the nurse for you!"
"Don’t. Just – Just tell me where the stables are. I have to go help my friends."
I’ll take you there!" Orko said, always looking for adventure. "But you have to take me with you!"
"Fine. Come on." Orko led her to the stables, where she paused to stroke Wildfire’s mane. "Not this time sweetie. You’re hurt." She climbed onto Arrow’s back. Orko grabbed onto her and they rode off.
Hordak lurked in the bushes near the royal palace. He would let that despicable He-Man and his cronies rescue Adora, then waylay them before they got to the palace. He heard horse hooves, coming from the wrong direction. A second rescue party? He recognized the rebel’s horse, and stood in the path.
Courtnie saw Hordak step out. "Orko – hide!" She ordered, sliding off the horse. "Look. I’m really not in a good mood right now, so why don’t you just let my friends go, and we’ll kick you ass just like we always do!"
"I don’t have your friends, you pathetic fool. But I do have you!" Courtnie drew her sword, as Hordak shot a blast at her. She rolled out of the way, careful of her leg. Hordak noticed. "You’re hurt, aren’t you? You’re in a lot of pain. I like pain. I will cause you more pain!" He advanced, looming over her. This was not working out at all like Courtnie had planned. She tried to get up, and heard the loud crack as her ankle gave way again. She collapsed to the ground.
Hordak laughed, watching the rebel girl struggle. Courtnie closed her eyes. This was it. She had fallen to the same prey that Alex always did – overestimation. Funny she had been out to protect Alex from her own delusions of grandeur, and was caught in one herself. She was startled by Hordak’s shriek of rage. She opened her eyes to see He-Man, She-Ra and Alex, standing there. Alex had just toasted Hordak, who was running away, apparently scared off. "I guess you’re wondering what I’m doing here, right?"
"You’re being as stupid as I usually am. Now I can tease you about thinking –"
"Alex, shut up."
Back in the infirmary, Courtnie was getting her ankle fixed, and a lecture. "Now miss. If you are going to sneak out in the middle of the night, please do not do so when you have a sprained ankle, and do not stop to visit my infirmary at such hours. Now you are going to use these crutches, and stay off that foot and listen to me or I am going to sedate you until you are healed. I don’t care what her highness the princess says."
"Yes sir." Courtnie sighed. As she sat up and looked around, she noticed Bow’s bed was empty. "Where’s Bow?" she asked, feeling that feeling in her gut again. Oh please don’t tell me he’s . . .
"Discharged. Apparently whatever you did woke him up. He’s weak, but I let him go to the party. I should make you stay here, but the Queen wants to meet you."
"Party?"
"Yes, for Christmas? The reason you are here, I gather?"
"Oh, yeah."
The party was in full swing by the time Courtnie limped in. A redheaded woman walked up to her. "Hello, I’m Queen Marlena." Courtnie relaxed. Marlena was the kind of person who made her feel warm just by talking to her. "You’re the other Earth native? I was talking with your friend earlier. She’s . . . quite something."
"Yeah. Uhh, Can you excuse me? I would love to chat later, but I have a few people I have to talk to."
"Of course. Feel free to enjoy yourself." Courtnie hobbled over to where Alex and Glimmer were propped up by cushions, intent on Alex’s computer. "Did you get your toy fixed?"
"Do you remember any of the cheats for Doom?"
Courtnie sighed. "I should go tell Angella you’re corrupting her daughter. Merry Christmas."
"How about Diablo?"
"You don’t have the hacks?"
"Oh yeah!" Alex turned her attention back to her pupil. "So if you want to cheat in Diablo this is what you do . . ." Courtnie limped off. Alex was busy. She hobbled out to the open terrace to collect her thoughts.
She stared at the stars, thinking. Courtnie was so lost in her thoughts; she didn’t hear Bow coming up behind her. She jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder. "Hi there." He stepped up next to her. "I seem to remember someone coming in to visit me just before I woke up. She said some things, things that meant a lot."
Ohmylord! This is not happening. This is happening. "Well I ah . . ." Bow shushed her, taking her in his arms. "I felt the same way. We would make a great team, Courtnie." He leaned over and kissed her.
When they were done, she looked up at him. He looked so great in the moonlight. "Oh, wow!"
"Merry Christmas, Courtnie."
Pain. Courtnie didn’t want to wake up. "Courtnie, come on. Come back" Whose voice was that? How did he know her? Why should she have to wake up? "Come on. It’s time!" She groaned. Okay fine. She tried to sit up and open her eyes. Sea Hawk was standing there, and a man she didn’t recognize. "What happened. I guess I blacked out, huh?"
Yes, you were in shock from a broken ankle that you tried you walk on, and two bruised ribs. I’ve taken care of those, but the ankle has to heal on it’s own. Since you seem to be recovering, I will send you to the room their majesties have readied for you."
"Wait a minute! Who are you, where’s Adora and where am I? And what is going on here?"
"Well," Hawk began. "Adora was apparently taken by someone called Skeletor. Glimmer is recovering nicely and I’m fine. This is the palace of Eternia, and he’s the doctor."
"Where’s Alex –and – What about Bow?" Courtnie had a horrible feeling in her gut.
"We didn’t find her. And Bow is—well, come on." Hawk offered her an arm. She accepted the offer, mostly because the doctor was watching her. Sea Hawk helped her limp to a bed, where Bow was hooked up to all kinds of machinery. "Oh my – "She gasped, tears filling her eyes. What happened? Why was her wold crashing down like this? Christmas was supposed to be a happy time! She felt the hot salty tears run down her cheeks. "Come on," Hawk said quietly, guiding her out of the infirmary. As they limped down the corridor, she was struck by a sudden thought. "Where’s Alex?"
"I don’t know – she must have been captured. We didn’t find her."
"I have to go help her!" Courtnie untwined herself from Hawk and limped off down the corridor, running into someone. "Excuse me," She said, pushing past. A hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Shouldn’t you be in bed?"
"Your highness, this is Courtnie. Courtnie, this is King Randor of Eternia."
"Umm. Hi." She tried to bow, but almost pitched forward. Regaining her balance, she limped off. "I have to go."
"Where are you off to?" the King asked, amused. She was so determined, even though she was injured.
"I have to go help Alex. She’s a moron!" Hawk chuckled. What a way to refer to your best friend.
"A rescue party has already gone to get Adora. I didn’t know about your friend, but they will look for her."
"Your highness you don’t understand. Alex is – well – she thinks she’s a lot more than she is. She’s going to try and get out of wherever she is, and get herself killed! I have to go pull her out of the fire as usual!"
"No you don’t." Hawk planted a hand firmly on her shoulder, guiding her into a nearby bedroom. Her clothes and weapons lay neatly in a pile on the bed. Hawk looked at her, then the bed. "All right I get it!" She climbed into bed, and Hawk left the room.
Randor was outside. "Quite an interesting young lady. She’s from Earth, you say?"
"Yes sir."
"They’re all like that – headstrong, impulsive. Why I could tell you . . ."
Courtnie listened as the dialogue trailed off. This was so stupid. Alex was going to get herself killed, and what about Bow. She sat and looked out the window, watching the strange sunset. She really liked Bow, not like she had liked any of her other boyfriends. He was a really great guy, sure he was pompous sometimes, but what man wasn’t? Bow was charming, sweet, good looking. What else could you want? And now he was halfway between life and death, and might never know how she felt! Courtnie dozed off, troubled.
When she woke up, night had fallen. She decided to act. Slipping out of bed, she dressed and slid her belt on, feeling much more comfortable with the weight of her sword on her hip. She quietly slipped out into the dark corridor, limping. The pain wasn’t as bad as she remembered, or was it adrenaline? She slipped into the infirmary. The nurse on duty had fallen asleep at the monitors. "Nice." She thought. She slipped over to Bow’s bedside and slid her hand into his. "Look. I know you probably can’t hear me, but . . ." she gulped back the sob. "I never got a chance to tell you how I felt. It’s so trite, but you really don’t know what you have until you lose it. I don’t know if I’ll be back. I have to go save Alex’s ass you know. I wish you could help me. We’d make a great team you and I." Courtnie looked at Bow’ still, pale form, and leaned over, kissing his forehead. "Get better." She limped out, and ran into a floating thing.
"Hey you’re one of Adora’s friends. You’re hurt."
"Who are you!" Courtnie hissed.
"Orko, the court magician. I better get the nurse for you!"
"Don’t. Just – Just tell me where the stables are. I have to go help my friends."
I’ll take you there!" Orko said, always looking for adventure. "But you have to take me with you!"
"Fine. Come on." Orko led her to the stables, where she paused to stroke Wildfire’s mane. "Not this time sweetie. You’re hurt." She climbed onto Arrow’s back. Orko grabbed onto her and they rode off.
Hordak lurked in the bushes near the royal palace. He would let that despicable He-Man and his cronies rescue Adora, then waylay them before they got to the palace. He heard horse hooves, coming from the wrong direction. A second rescue party? He recognized the rebel’s horse, and stood in the path.
Courtnie saw Hordak step out. "Orko – hide!" She ordered, sliding off the horse. "Look. I’m really not in a good mood right now, so why don’t you just let my friends go, and we’ll kick you ass just like we always do!"
"I don’t have your friends, you pathetic fool. But I do have you!" Courtnie drew her sword, as Hordak shot a blast at her. She rolled out of the way, careful of her leg. Hordak noticed. "You’re hurt, aren’t you? You’re in a lot of pain. I like pain. I will cause you more pain!" He advanced on hr looming over her. This was not working out at all like Courtnie had planned. She tried to get up, and heard the loud crack as her ankle gave way again. She collapsed to the ground. Hordak laughed, watching the rebel girl struggle. Courtnie closed hr eyes. This was it. She had fallen to the same prey that Alex always did – overestimation. Funny she had been out to protect Alex from her own delusions of grandeur, and was caught in one herself. She was startled by Hordak’s shriek of rage. She opened her eyes to see He-Man, She-Ra and Alex, standing there. Alex had just toasted Hordak, who was running away, apparently scared off. "I guess you’re wondering what I’m doing here, right?"
"You’re being as stupid as I usually am. Now I can tease you about thinking –"
"Alex, shut up."
Back in the infirmary, Courtnie was getting her ankle fixed, and a lecture. "Now miss. If you are going to sneak out in the middle of the night, please do not do so when you have a sprained ankle, and do not stop to visit my infirmary at such hours. Now you are going to use these crutches, and stay off that foot and listen to me or I am going to sedate you until you are healed. I don’t care what her highness the princess says."
"Yes sir." Courtnie sighed. As she sat up and looked around, she noticed Bow’s bed was empty. "Where’s Bow?" she asked, feeling that feeling in her gut again. Oh please don’t tell me he’s . . .
"Discharged. Apparently whatever you did woke him up. He’s weak, but I let him go to the party. I should make you stay here, but the Queen wants to meet you."
"Party?"
"Yes, for Christmas? The reason you are here, I gather?"
"Oh, yeah."
The party was in full swing by the time Courtnie limped in. A redheaded woman walked up to her. "Hello, I’m Queen Marlena." Courtnie relaxed. Marlena was the kind of person who made her feel warm just by talki8ng to her. "You’re the other Earth native? I was talking with your friend earlier. She’s . . . quite something."
"Yeah. Uhh, Can you excuse me? I would love to chat later, but I have a few people I have to talk to."
"Of course. Feel free to enjoy yourself." Courtnie hobbled over to where Alex and Glimmer were propped up by cushions, intent on Alex’s computer. "Did you get your toy fixed?"
"Do you remember any of the cheats for Doom?"
Courtnie sighed. "I should go tell Angella you’re corrupting her daughter. Merry Christmas."
"How about Diablo?"
"You don’t have the hacks?"
"Oh yeah!" Alex turned her attention back to her pupil. "So if you want to cheat in Diablo this is what you do . . ." Courtnie hobbled off. Alex was busy. She hobbled out to the open terrace to collect her thoughts.
She stared at the stars, thinking. Courtnie was so lost in her thoughts; she didn’t hear Bow coming up behind her. She jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder. "Hi there." He stepped up next to her. "I seem to remember someone coming in to visit me just before I woke up. She said some things, things that meant a lot."
Ohmylord! This is not happening. This is happening. "Well I ah . . ." Bow shushed her, taking her in his arms. "I felt the same way. We would make a great team, Courtnie." He leaned over and kissed her.
When they were done, she looked up at him. He looked so great in the moonlight. "Oh, wow!"
"Merry Christmas, Courtnie."