'What were you thinking!? Kowl shouted out.
"I…uh..well." Bow stuttered.
"That's right, you didn't think! Someone could have been killed because of your foolishness."
"But no one was."
"This time…what about the next time?"
"It was an accident Kowl."
"Everything with you is an accident. YOU are an accident, just waiting to happen!" Kowl continued bashing his friend.
Bow hung his head low. "I was only trying to help."
"Maybe you shouldn't try then, eh?"
Bow glared angrily at Kowl. "Sure thing Kowl, I'll just stand around all day and do nothing so I won't get into trouble."
" A marvelous idea."
"And when the Horde captures you and throws you in a dungeon I WON'T rescue you!"
"FINE!" Kowl yelled back, getting in Bow's face.
"Whoa guys! What's all this shouting about?" Adora stepped closer to them, curious about what was causing such a commotion.
Kowl pointed an accusing finger at Bow. "His carelessness nearly destroyed another town today!"
"Gee what else is new?" Adora said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I'm getting used to saving towns from Bow. AT least he's more reasonable then the Horde."
Bow's jaw dropped. Adora's words were a major blow to him. He could deal with Kowl's comments but Adora's were the last straw. "What's gotten into you guys? What is this? 'Pick on Bow day?'"
Kowl crossed his arms over his chest and grinned at Adora. "I thought that was everyday?" Adora covered her mouth to giggle.
"I make a simple mistake and you treat me like a baby." Bow interjected.
'We wouldn't treat you like one if you didn't act like one." Kowl told him, matter or factly.
Bow turned from them both, hurt and anger ever present. "Oh that was low Kowl, even for you. Maybe you should apologize." Adora told him.
"I will not apologize for the truth."
A sharp whistle filled the air and soon Bow's horse Arrow was galloping towards him. Grabbing the reins in his left hand and the seat of the saddle with hie right he pulled himself onto his horse's back.
"Bow, don't go. We were just teasing you." Adora told him.
"Yea, well go tease someone else." With that he turned his horse towards the woods and was gone.
"I think that we went a little too far this time, Kowl. We really hurt his feelings."
"he'll get over it, just fine. Maybe it will help him. To be a member of the rebellion and stay alive you can't afford to act like a clown." Adora looked to the direction that Bow had left in and prayed that he would keep himself out of trouble.
Each rock that hit the water, hit harder then the one before it. Bow sat tossing rocks into the Twin Creeks, where the 2 creeks from the mountains met.
"I can accept Kowl's teasing," he said aloud to himself, "but now Adora's into it too?" He sighed deeply. "All I want for once is for someone to understand me. To find someone who doesn't mind my antics and accepts and appreciates me for who I am." He sighed again and looked over to his horse whom was grazing quietly. " But I'm asking for the impossible."
"You're asking for trouble rebel and you have found it!" Bow spun around and leapt to his feet when he saw Mantenna and a group of Horde troopers standing behind him. He drew his quiver from behind his back and readied an arrow. "GET HIM GUARDS!" Mantenna shouted. The troopers fired at Bow and chased him a bit into the forest. "this isn't working." Mantenna told his troopers. "I've got a better idea! Capture his steed, when he wants it he will show himself."
Bow heard Arrow neigh loudly and watched the troopers capture him. Ever desperate to play the hero, Bow jumped out from his hiding place and pointed an arrow at the guards. "Let my horse go, you cowards. It's me you really want."
"Foolish rebel! Attack him!" Bow dodged a few shots but quickly grew tired. He was terribly out numbered but he refused to leave his horse. As he raced from one tree to the next to shelter himself, he was hit in the chest. The powerful blast sent him reeling backwards and he hit his head on the tree. He fell forward, black quickly entering his world. The last thing he saw before total darkness over took him was a girl dressed in purple and green standing protectively in front of him.
Bow groaned, his head was throbbing. He felt something cool and damp on his face. Very slowly he opened his eyes. The mysterious girl he had seen before was kneeling at his side and was putting a damp cloth on his forehead. His vision was slightly blurred from hitting his head so hard, but he watched her. The girl was dressed in a long flowing lavender cape and a green outfit. She wore a hood over her head and a veil covered her face. Only her green eyes were exposed. Long brown hair that escaped her hood cascaded down her shoulders.
"Who…?" he asked.
"I'll explain later." Her voice was soft and soothing. "You hit your head pretty hard and you're running a fever. You need your rest."
"Arrow…" He groaned rising slightly from the ground.
"-is fine and grazing with my horse. Now rest." She gently placed her hand on his chest and pushed him to the ground. Bow surrendered to her request and soon dreams of the mysterious maiden who had saved him, invaded him mind.
"I'm worried Kowl, Bow should have been back by now. It's night. How will he find his way back to camp?"
"he's a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"I hope that you're right, otherwise She-ra might need to go look for him."
Bow opened his eyes noticing the darkness around him and the flickering light of a fire.
"Oh good you're awake. How do you feel?"
Bow looked up to see the maiden at his side once again. "Uggh, I've been better."
"I bet." The girl chuckled softly. "Are you hungry?"
"Starved."
"It's not often that I eat with someone. Here." She handed him a bowl of stew and some bread and water. He sat up and began to eat. The girl walked to the opposite side of the fire and sat on a log to eat her own food. Bow watched her through the dancing flames. He wished that her face wasn't hidden. He was dying to see what this woman looked like. His eyes met hers and he shyly looked away. He finished his meal and the woman took his dishes.
"What is your name, warrior? She asked him.
"Bow, at your service m'lady. And you?"
"Na-kia."
"Well Na-kia, I do believe that I owe you a thank you." She nodded.
"You should be more careful where the Horde is concerned. This region is full of them. Lucky for you I happened to be passing by."
"Indeed." He told her with a grin. "I was sitting beside the creek one moment and the next I was fighting for my life."
"The Horde may not be the brightest bunch, but they occasionally will sneak up on you when you least expect it."
"So you fight the Horde?"
"From time to time."
"I'm with the rebellions and we're always looking for more people to join our cause of fighting the Horde."
She chuckled. "You haven't even seen me fight."
"You saved me, not an easy task, I usually have things under control. They'd love to have you. I wouldn't mind if you joined us."
"Sorry, but it's not my style. I'm way too much of a loner. I save those who need protecting from the Horde, but on a quiet level. I'm don't need to make a scene when I fight. I'd rather fight alone."
"Gee that sounds kind of lonely."
"I'm used to it. It's getting late. Your camp is a good day's ride from here. You're welcome to stay here until morning or until you're fit to ride." He nodded and she rose and tossed him a blanket. She grabbed a blanket for herself and spread it out on the opposite side of the fire.
"Na-kia, there's something I wanted to ask you." She nodded for him to continue. "Why do you wear that veil over your face?"
"It's part of who I am, I suppose." He nodded confused by her answer. He watched her lay down prepare to sleep. He did the same laying on his back with the blanket wrapped over him. With a sigh he closed his eyes and sleep overcame him.
The next morning he awakened to peace and quiet. There was no hustle and bustle at the camp. His eyes shot open and he remembered that he was not at the rebel camp but with the mysterious woman who had saved him, Na-kia. The camp site was deserted and for a moment he was ready to start complaining how she had left him there alone. Suddenly he heard a whinny from above and looked up to see a chestnut unicorn with a blond mane and tail and red, tan and gray wings soaring down from the sky. On the unicorn's back was Na-kia. Her steed landed and she jumped down off his back. Bow's mouth dropped.
"Good morning, Bow."
"Good morning. I awakened and you weren't here. I thought that you had left!"
"Sorry to startle you. Sunfyre and I usually take a flight every morning, since you were sleeping we decided that today should be no different."
"Sunfyre, is that the name of your unicorn?"
"That is my name." The unicorn told him.
"You can speak, like She-ra's horse SwiftWind."
"Of course. All unicorns can speak, humans just don't listen to us."
"How did you sleep?" Na-kia asked him moving towards a small fire she had started.
"I slept ok. Just forgot where I was when I awakened that's all."
"Care for breakfast? I just came back from Glen Notch and brought back some eggs and biscuits."
"Sounds delicious." He told her with a nod. Bow checked on Arrow and led him to a stream for a drink and soon returned to join her for breakfast. While they sat he began some small talk with her. "So why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"
"There is not much to say." Na-kia told him and Sunfyre snorted.
"Sunfyre doesn't seem to agree with you."
"Sunfyre has his head up in the clouds."
The unicorn gave a laugh. "Na-kia is a bit on the secretive side. You'll have to forgive her for that."
"It's alright. Tell me how you and Sunfyre met?"
"I saved him off of a Horde Transport ship. He was to be a slave for Hordak. Hordak had been in a search of a steed as magnificent as She-ra's SwiftWind. He had chosen Sunfyre at first but Hordak could not control the spirit and fire in him and decided that he would make a better slave. I saved him and a few other unicorns and Sunfyre decided that he would stay with me and help fight Hordak."
"I had no reason to return to Unicorn Island. There was nothing there for me. It was too cramped and crowded. I longed to see all of Etheria. Na-kia saved me and we became good friends. We work as a team helping to protect the innocent."
"Are you sure that you two don't want to join the Rebellion?"
"We're certain." Na-kia told him. "Speaking of your Rebellion, they must be worried where you are."
"Somehow I don't' think so. They're probably throwing a party to celebrate. There's no Bow to annoy them all."
Na-kia was silent for a moment. "You don't get along with your Rebellion?"
"usually I do, but lately…. I won't bother you with details, it's not important."
"It sounds important. Do they treat you unfairly there?"
"No, I suppose I deserve their teasing, I get a bit full of myself sometimes and other times I act like a bit of a clown. I'm only trying to make life a little more interesting. Everyone is so serious about fighting the Horde. I just can't be serious all the time. Everyone needs to laugh sometime and enjoy themselves."
"Laughing and fun is a luxury unfortunately. I knew it once, but that was a long time ago.." The girl shook her head, lost in a memory."
Bow stared at her, almost struggling to imagine what she looked like under that veil and he knew how she felt about happiness. It was once something that everyone enjoyed, but now….
"Well, you are supposed to be good with a bow and arrow? Would you show me? I always tried to learn how to handle a bow and arrow but was never any good at it. Always fought better with my hands and wits. I'd love to see a master at work."
A smile crept onto Bow's face. "I would love to." He withdrew his Bow and a plain arrow. "See that tree directly south? I'm going to hit that small twig growing off the lower limb." Bow aimed and his arrow hit it's mark and the twig fell to the ground.
"Amazing."
"Would you like to learn how to do that? I can teach you."
"alright." Bow walked over to her and placed the quiver in her hand. He slowly and gently positioned her hands in the correct spots. He showed her how to place the arrow onto the quiver and how to release it. After a few tries she was already hitting close to a target that he would give her.
"that's excellent. You're a very fast learner."
"Thank you." Bow watched her eyes light up with a smile. The rest of the morning and until mid afternoon was spent working with the quiver and the arrows."
"We both deserve a rest after all this hard work. Would you like to come into town with me to get some supplies for dinner?"
"I'd love to. Just let me take Arrow over to the stream and make sure that he has enough food to last until we return." She nodded and watched him go.
"You like him don't you?" Sunfyre whispered to his friend.
"Hush Sunny."
"Why? It's the truth is it not? I think that he is good for you. An excellent match." Na-kia rolled her eyes. "If you didn't like him you would have sent him packing just after you saved him. You forget, I know you and very well. I know you better then anyone on Etheria. We have saved many others and you have all sent them on their way, yet Bow is still with us and that is wonderful. You shouldn't be afraid to make new friends Amber." Na-kia stared hard at him after he had said her given name aloud. "It's about time that you got over your fear of being hurt. I know Tylor hurt you and he deserved the fate he got, but you deserve better. Forget him and move on with your life. You may want to be alone forever, but I don't. This Rebellion he belongs to might not be such a bad idea."
"Did I ever tell you talk too much?"
"Daily, a long with the fact that you think I am a Know-it-all."
"Haven't gotten that far yet today, don't push it!" Bow was emerging from the woods with Arrow and he walked towards Na-kia and Sunfyre.
"Ok, all set."
"Good, let's ride." She jumped on Sunfyre's back and extended her hand to help Bow up. He leapt up behind her and Sunfyre took to the sky.
"Down SwiftWind. I see Bow's horse." She-ra and SwiftWInd landed at the camp. "Hello. Anyone here? Bow?" After a silence she spoke again. "There's no one here? Where could Bow have gone. I hope that Hordak has gotten a hold of him!"
"I don't believe he has been captured. There are fresh unicorn tracks in this dirt. As well as prints from Bow and another human."
"You're right Swifty. Bow must have found someone and gone off with them. It's so unlike him though not to check in at camp."
"From what I overheard from others, you and Kowl were rather hard on him."
"we were only teasing him. After I watched him leave I felt terrible. I never meant to hurt him."
"He will return to the rebel camp when he is ready. Arrow says that he is in no danger. He was saved by a maiden and they have become friends."
"As long as he's safe. We can check back here tonight to see if he's alright. Come on Swifty let's head back to camp." With a neigh She-ra and SwiftWInd were skyborn.
"Look here, how about this one?" Bow asked.
"not purple enough. When the fruit is ripe it turns a very lovely shade of purple." Bow nodded and picked another which made Na-kia's approval. They spent the early evening gathering food and returned to camp sometime later.
Bow helped her prepare and cook dinner and afterwards they took a stroll along the creek. As they walked Bow noticed a change in himself. He hadn't been acting too foolishly. He hadn't shown off or acted like he was a big shot. This girl brought out Great Changes in him. Bow told her how he grew up in a small quiet town before the Horde came. Then when he was old enough he joined the Great Rebellion to help fight. He told her stories of working along side with She-ra, Princess Glimmer and Queen Angella of Brightmoon.
"Your life sound very exciting and despite having to fight the Horde you have a marvelous sense of humor to get you through it all."
"Tell me about you, please?"
"There isn't much-"
"-To say? I'm willing to bet otherwise."
Na-kia could hear Sunfyre's voice in her head. She needed to get past the hurt, trust in people a little more. Bow seemed so nice, but so had Tylor. "I'm not from Etheria." She blurted out.
"What?" Bow asked. " I don't understand."
"I'm from Earth. Hordak accidently brought me here when he was trying out a new toy from Horde Prime. He wouldn't send me back so I was stuck here."
"Hordak took you from your home?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been away from it?"
"5 years." Bow didn't know what to say.
"Na-kia, I'm so sorry."
"Na-kia is not my real name. My name is Amber Lendale. Na-kia was the name of my best friend on earth. She died of a serious illness called Cancer when we were both 16. She was very brave and strong through it all, so I named my warrior half after her." Bow stood silently trying to digest this all.
"Who hurt you? Hordak?"
"What?"
"When I was returning with Arrow from the woods I overheard Sunfyre say that 'it was time that you got over your fear of being hurt'."
"Although I hate Hordak from taking me away from my home and family he was not the one who did the most hurt and damage in my life here on Etheria. When I first came here I didn't know who to turn to, who to trust. I was told of the Rebellion and was going to join it after I heard they helped people. First I was hoping that the Rebellion could send me home, but people told me they just fought Hordak. I met a man before I could find the Rebellion. He owned a farm and offered me work to get me going while I was on Etheria. I agreed, after all it was a job to earn me money, shelter and food. This man had a young son, my own age. We fell in love and he treated me with so much respect, tried to give me the world and tried to convince me to forget helping the Rebellion and to stay and marry him. I agreed. I had been on Etheria over a year and a half and had been living with he and his family nearly that entire time. First I found out he was cheating on me with another woman, then he threatened to beat me if I told his family he was being unfaithful. His mother and father loved me like a daughter. I was afraid of him and would not tell. To keep me scared he would say things, be rough with me to make me keep my mouth shut. His father found out from someone other then me and Tylor beat me savagely. I had saved Sunfyre when I had first arrived here and he rescued me. Saw that I was going to die if I remained there and kept me hidden while Tylor searched high and low for me . He wanted to kill me, but he never found me." Na-kia shifted her weight uncomfortably from leg to leg. With tears in her eyes she started to remove the hood from her head and began to untie the veil from her face. Bow watched her in silence, his heart torn at the horrible things that had happened to this girl since she had been on Etheria. "You asked me why I wore this veil. I wear it to hide something that reminds me everyday of Tylor. The veil fell slowly from her face and Bow saw a scar that ran down her cheek. She beautiful but the scar threatened her beauty and left her with a terrible reminder.
Bow grabbed her hands with his own. "Come with me to the Rebel camp. She-ra can help remove that. She has healing powers."
"impossible, everyone with magic has tried and to no avail."
"She-ra can do it, trust me. Please come with me. Let me help you. You helped me now let me return the favor." His dark eyes were pleading with her. They were full of concern." She nodded quickly retying he veil and flipping her hood back onto her head.
"If She-ra can remove this scar then I will be eternally grateful to you."
"Nonsense. I just want to help. I want to show you that not all Etherians are cruel. Some of us are filled with goodness."
"I know that not everyone is cruel. You have already showed me this." Here eyes were smiling at him. He smiled in return and hand and hand they returned to the camp to pack and head to the Rebel camp.
Bow and Na-kia rode into camp on their horses and immediately were surrounded by some of the rebels.
"Where have you been?! We have all been out wasting our time looking for you and where have you been, off with a girl?" Kowl cried out.
"First off I wasn't wasting anyone's time. I left because if I remember correctly my so called friends were teasing me. I ran into some trouble and Na-kia here saved me. I was injured and she was kind enough to help me. Now if you don't mind, I need to find She-ra. Has anyone seen her?"
"What do you need with She-ra?" Adora asked curiously.
"I don't need her, but my friend here does. It's a rather long story and not my business to tell anyone."
"Bow if it's too much trouble…" Na-kia started.
"Nonsense. C'mon, are you hungry?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Ok, I'll show you around while we wait around for She-ra to show up." Na-kia followed Bow and their horses walked over to a grassy spot to wait.
When they were out of earshot Na-kia whispered to him, "Are the rebels always like that?" He raised a brow and she explained. "So mean, uncaring. I thought they were fighting to save the innocent from the Horde?"
"They're only act like that with me. You see I'm taken as a fool and an oaf and I'm supposedly incapable of doing anything right."
"Perhaps they just need to get to know you better?" she offered.
"They know me, too well. I have acted like an oaf and a fool in the past, but many things that I've done wrong were done by accident, but they only see me as an accident and don't remember the good that I have done."
"How terrible."
"but I've changed. I have and they won't take the time to notice. I've taken the time to change things, be more observant and not act on impulse. I know I only met you a few days ago but meeting you has changed me, I don't know how or why it has, but thank you."
"um…your welcome, I think." Na-kia gave a shrug and Bow laughed.
"I'm sorry. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought you here. Everyone is on edge about the Horde and my behavior hasn't helped things much. I didn't mean for you to come here and see the negative side of the Rebellion."
"everything has a negative side to it and if yours is your sense of humor then you're alright Bow. In fact you're more then alright. You have been a refreshing change in my life these last few days. It's been lonely fighting the Horde alone, you've been welcome company."
A brilliant smile spread across Bow's face. "Why thank you. It's been along time since someone has given me a compliment like that." Na-kia nodded.
Bow showed her the rebel camp and while they were returning to check he found She-ra and SwiftWind has entered the camp.
"She-ra, we need your help." He told her.
"Yes, Adora informed me that you have a friend that needs my help."
Na-kia stepped from behind Bow. "Do you mind if we go somewhere a little less public?" she asked.
"Sure. Why don't we meet at Bow's tent, if he doesn't mind. No one will bother us there I'm sure." Na-kia nodded. "let me tend to SwiftWind first and I'll meet you two there." Bow and Na-kia nodded and made their way to Bow's tent on the outskirts of the camp. Once inside Na-kia paced.
"What's wrong? Nervous?"
She nodded. "What if she can't help me?"
"Hush, she will help you. She has the power to do so. I've watched her heal others many times."
"Oh I hope so." Bow placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"You don't know what this act of kindness means to me Bow. I will finally be putting Tylor out of my life. If everything goes well I don't know how I will repay you."
"Na-kia, I don't want payment. You saved me from the Horde and have brought out changes in me, that's more then enough payment."
"You are so kind. I only wish that there were more Etherians like you."
Bow smiled. "Two compliments in less then a half hour. I must have really made an impression."
"I assure you, you have." Bow's heart skipped a beat. He was sure that she was flirting with him. He couldn't believe it! Slowly he reached his hand up and pulled her hood back. She made no action that showed she wanted him to stop. He moved to the veil that covered her beautiful face and the ugly scar carved there. The veil dropped to the floor and they stared shyly at each other. Na-kia slowly stepped forward and hugged him tightly. When she stepped back there were tears in her eyes, a few escaped and silently trickled down her cheek. Bow carefully wiped them away and ran a finger over her scar. She smiled and moved forward, Bow tipped his head and kissed her softly. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his hands fell to her waist. Just then She-ra decided to make her appearance. Bow and Na-kia awkwardly broke off their embrace and She-ra cautiously stepped into the tent. Na-kia had replaced her hood, hiding her face in a cloak of darkness.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." She-ra told them and she winked at Bow who gave a shy smile. "Now what can I do you for you, Na-kia, is it?"
Na-kia nodded. "Bow has told me that you possess healing powers. Can you heal a very old and haunting wound?" She dropped her hood slowly and revealed the ugly scar.
She-ra stepped forward to look at it carefully. "How did this happen?"
"It's a long and emotional story that I would rather not tell. I will say that it was done long ago by someone I thought cared about me. I was wrong. Can you help me?"
"Let me try." Na-kia stepped forward and closed her eyes as She-ra raised her hands to cup the young woman's face. Na-kia felt her face tingling and soon she felt She-ra remove her hands.
"Did it work?" she asked
"See for yourself." She-ra told her. Bow handed her a small mirror and Na-kia nearly cried when she saw the ugly scar has disappeared and her fair pale smooth skin had returned.
"Oh thank you She-ra! You don't know what this means to me!" she cried out and she hugged She-ra tightly.
"I was glad to help my young friend. Now I must go. May we meet again and under pleasant circumstances."
Na-kia nodded a smile glued to her face. "thank you She-ra!" She-ra nodded and was gone. Na-kia then turned to Bow and rushed at him, hugging him tightly. "thank you so much! Look at me, I'm beautiful once again thanks to you!"
"You were beautiful even when you had that scar. A person's beauty isn't how they look on the outside but what's in here." He gently placed his hand over her heart. "And you possess so much beauty there."
Na-kia smiled brightly. He thought she was beautiful on the outside too and he told her that as well. "I can finally put my past behind me. I can start over and make a new life for myself."
"Stay here, please. The Rebellion needs you… I need you. I'd be lost without you now that you're in my life."
"I wouldn't dream of leaving you!" With that he took her into his arms and held her tightly.
"then let this be the start of a new life… for both of us." He told her.
"agreed. A new life that we start together."
"Come on. I never introduced you to the members of the Rebellion." She nodded and took the hand that he extended to her. Together they walked into the light and were met with a gathering crowd who were suddenly interested in Bow's new friend.