[She'll force a smile around adults when they ask, but she's on edge. Nia's not safe like this, and her whole life is a mess... She can't think of anything smart to do. She can think of a lot of stupid but not a lot of smart.]
[Fuu is trying to make good on her promise. She slips out past her guards and is searching for Adora in the fortress.
There are more close calls than she's comfortable with, and every time she's in the clear, it's her instinct to touch her wedding band. She needs to stay safe.
The search is almost agonizingly long. Every time Fuu thinks she's getting somewhere, she's hit a dead end, or a path too guarded for her to go down. But she's rising in the fortress, finally ending up in a tower with just a single room. And it's there she finds Adora, looking much worse for wear. There are markings of magic all over her, dozens of failed spells, burned sigils traced with still-hot charcoal, smudged markings of ink, all over her hands and arms and a prominent one in a deep red of dried blood on her forehead.
She stares at the queen wide eyed and confused.]
What are you doing here?
Thank goodness, I've been looking everywhere. We have to get you out of here.
What? No! You can't, they're going to do something awful if you do--
I'm not leaving you again. I made Ranma a promise--I'm bringing you home no matter what it takes.
It will take a lot more than this, your majesty.
[When Fuu turns, she realizes she's been made. She's not sure how long they've been tailing her, but it only makes sense. They're made of magic. Something like invisibility or cloaking would be easy for a fae. Or a crowd of them, as there's guards with the Chancellor this time.
They toss a couple of things at Fuu's feet. It takes her a long moment to realize what they are.
She only kept two guards with her. And these are their heads.
The shriek of horror that comes out of Fuu is something Ranma has never heard before.]
[Catra's dream is a little... dimmer. She doesn't have the same desperation that Ranma tends to have when it comes to prayer, but--
The King's room in the fae's fortress is dark, dreary, the kind of thing one might picture when they think of the things his governance has done. He's pacing in pure frustration.
The chancellor doesn't look pleased, either.]
I would have thought he would have complied already, sent back the body in exchange for his family. We may have to push him further.
They're stubborn in the south, they think we're soft like they are. I'm sure he's shocked by the request.
... The princess may be able to be persuaded...
Do you think so? Send a package to her, then. To them both. Send them each... a gift.
[Morning dawns uncomfortably on Sefiro. Cold but humid, the kind of chill that gets right into your bones. It looks like a downpour is coming.
There's a storm coming. Maids are all over the castle trying to make sure there's enough blankets and that fires are lit. The weather is absolutely unseasonable.]
[Catra stirs uncomfortably. That dream... it couldn't be... real...?
She's on her toes today. She tries to get a read on Ranma, but they're keeping their cards close to their chest. Consulting with religious figures and experts.]
[Nia is bouncy but willing to be super helpful with Leslie. She's so friendly and bubbly, trying to keep spirits up, which is probably wild considering what Leslie knows...]
She's very unsettled the entire time but is trying so hard to be pleasant and sweet. She'll ask questions about how Nia is doing and what she's been up to in town.]
[Nia will talk about all the things she's seen, and be mostly chipper. She pauses when she considers how upset people were with the fae, but the smile is back quickly.]
... Maybe one day we can come to an understanding. It would be beautiful.
...its tough for people to understand each other. We all come from different experiences. Different ways of communicating. There will always be misunderstandings.
Even as we tell the people here that no one in the fae lands want a war, we fall into doing the same stereotyping of ourselves that we ask the kingdom residents not today. I like to think most people on both sides don't want a war. But... I don't know if I can say no one wants one.
Why would anyone want that, though? I don’t… understand. People would hide be hurt…
That’s why… that’s why I… [ Her brow furrows as if she’s trying to remember something foggy. ] … went to go speak with the king… about letting… Adora go…
As a sign of good faith… [ She trails off. Why can’t she remember the conversation? ]
There's all kinds of reasons. Fear. Anger. The thought that hurting others will keep loved ones safe. Even some people... might want it so they can have power.
[Oh but that. That's not a good sign. And a further confirmation of what she's afraid of.
She puts a hand on Nia's. Not ready to push her in a certain direction, just trying to help her steady herself.]
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Ranma trusts dreams.]
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There are more close calls than she's comfortable with, and every time she's in the clear, it's her instinct to touch her wedding band. She needs to stay safe.
The search is almost agonizingly long. Every time Fuu thinks she's getting somewhere, she's hit a dead end, or a path too guarded for her to go down. But she's rising in the fortress, finally ending up in a tower with just a single room. And it's there she finds Adora, looking much worse for wear. There are markings of magic all over her, dozens of failed spells, burned sigils traced with still-hot charcoal, smudged markings of ink, all over her hands and arms and a prominent one in a deep red of dried blood on her forehead.
She stares at the queen wide eyed and confused.]
What are you doing here?
Thank goodness, I've been looking everywhere. We have to get you out of here.
What? No! You can't, they're going to do something awful if you do--
I'm not leaving you again. I made Ranma a promise--I'm bringing you home no matter what it takes.
It will take a lot more than this, your majesty.
[When Fuu turns, she realizes she's been made. She's not sure how long they've been tailing her, but it only makes sense. They're made of magic. Something like invisibility or cloaking would be easy for a fae. Or a crowd of them, as there's guards with the Chancellor this time.
They toss a couple of things at Fuu's feet. It takes her a long moment to realize what they are.
She only kept two guards with her. And these are their heads.
The shriek of horror that comes out of Fuu is something Ranma has never heard before.]
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He groans and wails in their sleep, but there's nothing to be done.]
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The King's room in the fae's fortress is dark, dreary, the kind of thing one might picture when they think of the things his governance has done. He's pacing in pure frustration.
The chancellor doesn't look pleased, either.]
I would have thought he would have complied already, sent back the body in exchange for his family. We may have to push him further.
They're stubborn in the south, they think we're soft like they are. I'm sure he's shocked by the request.
... The princess may be able to be persuaded...
Do you think so? Send a package to her, then. To them both. Send them each... a gift.
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Catra doesn't understand but. She doesn't like this feeling one bit. She's sweating a lot too.]
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There's a storm coming. Maids are all over the castle trying to make sure there's enough blankets and that fires are lit. The weather is absolutely unseasonable.]
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She's on her toes today. She tries to get a read on Ranma, but they're keeping their cards close to their chest. Consulting with religious figures and experts.]
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They might ask her to help out Leslie, actually. She's still recovering and her nerves are shot with everything going on.]
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She's very unsettled the entire time but is trying so hard to be pleasant and sweet. She'll ask questions about how Nia is doing and what she's been up to in town.]
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... Maybe one day we can come to an understanding. It would be beautiful.
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That’s why… that’s why I… [ Her brow furrows as if she’s trying to remember something foggy. ] … went to go speak with the king… about letting… Adora go…
As a sign of good faith… [ She trails off. Why can’t she remember the conversation? ]
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[Oh but that. That's not a good sign. And a further confirmation of what she's afraid of.
She puts a hand on Nia's. Not ready to push her in a certain direction, just trying to help her steady herself.]
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The king said I arrived with a letter. Do you think he might still have it?
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