Song: "Hero" from Music from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

I had a few friends growing up, but they were the sorts one discussed dolls and sewing with, not the sorts who would listen to you pour out your heart. Children never minded my light in Bel Delvala. But Mother...you were the one I poured out my soul to. Now I have lost you and so much has happened to plague me with loneliness that I regret not telling you more. I'm scared to admit some things even to myself.

❂❂❂

After they had made dinner, Light Spinner set it out on the table. She sighed, trying to dissipate the new, sweet memory of his arms around her. She wasn't close with Micah. He knew nothing about her, and she knew very little about him. He was her student, nothing more and nothing less, and she would not let him into her personal life. Not like last time I had a friend. Not like then, when as soon as other people judged him, he chose them over me.

Does he know? she wondered as he set out napkins, his gaze purely happy with no struggle to maintain it. Does he know about Mother somehow? Or her husband? Or Nell, perhaps?

That would be impossible. Light Spinner never discussed her home life back in Bel Delvala with anyone, not even Master Norwyn. Nell was also off-limits, but those years after Mother went to sleep beneath the pines were forbidden to the point of her outright pretending her father had been a perfect man.

"What did you do to deserve this?" Norwyn asked, touching the black bruise on her small, thin face.

The question brought tears to her eyes. "I broke a pot. It was one of Mother's favorites."

"There was no need for such harshness, but this is why you must learn to control your feelings, and then your powers will follow. You can overcome your curse, Alura."

Light Spinner clenched her fists and shut her eyes. Micah's voice called to her. "Are you okay?"

Her chest was tight as she nodded numbly. The doorbell rang, saving her from having to explain, and she let Norwyn and Castaspella inside.

The toddler hugged Micah around the knees, and he hoisted her up, spinning her around with laughter. Light Spinner bowed slightly before Norwyn, but didn't hug him; the memory of why she never shared her past had just boiled painfully to the surface.

She cleared her throat. "There's more soup in the kitchen if you want it after."

Norwyn sat down with Casta on his lap. Light Spinner slipped her own soup beneath her veil, the herbs slightly tangy on her tongue. She forced her mind off of the incident and decided to enjoy herself, even if she would rather seclude herself in her office now.

Micah was eating far faster than would have been appropriate in Bel Delvala. Yes, eat. Fill out your ribs. "This is all really good," he said, his tone never artificially cheerful like Light Spinner's had to be. How does he do it?

I know there's something wrong with me. Perhaps not what the Seraphites think, but there's something.

A forced smile touched her lips. "You made most of it. I just added the meat and made sure you didn't cut your fingers off."

Norwyn chuckled. "She had a habit of almost doing just that when she was younger."

Light Spinner blushed. "Nonsense. I have been able to wield a knife from the age of six!" At their concerned looks, she cleared her throat sheepishly. "For cooking, of course."

Micah chuckled. "That's so cool. Norwyn, what's it like being the king of Mystacor?"

Norwyn dipped his head. "I am the Head Sorcerer, actually. There's a difference."

"Which is?"

"Light Spinner also helps rule," Norwyn said, taking her hand. Her chest grew tighter. "In her own special way, she is a queen too."

"You're a queen?" Micah asked. "Light Spinner, that's awesome! You're like a princess, but better."

She wormed her hand out of Norwyn's, keeping her expression neutral. Ah, yes. Princesses. Those power-wielding fools. "I met Princess Estila...once. Princesses are so proper. Stern. Might as well be made of porcelain."

"And you're not?" Micah giggled. "The only difference between you and them is that they have runestones. What's your deal with them?"

Light Spinner gritted her teeth from behind her veil, and Norwyn shot her a warning look. Light Spinner wished to tell Micah why the princesses made her furious. But she wasn't permitted to - of course, I become an adult, and I still have to obey my parent like I'm simply a child.

She bit her tongue. Don't ruin the evening. "The princesses are fine," she lied. "Beautiful dresses, so much power; it's an incredible thought. And Estila was friendly when we spoke."

Awkward silence filled the table, and after a moment, she stood and cleared her throat. "Please excuse me," she said softly, going to the kitchen to finish her food.

✧✧✧

After Norwyn and Casta left, Micah found Light Spinner in the kitchen, washing the dishes. "Didn't you say he'd charmed the supplies to do your chores for you?"

A grunt from the Delvalian. "Yes. I needed to be alone."

"What was it about the princesses that you didn't like?" Micah ventured. "I mean, the ones in Tropicilas don't really care about the pauperum and keep the food in Clerbélia, and that's why I don't get full meals."

Light Spinner dried her hands and turned around. "We have to go to bed. I'll tell you when you're older."

Micah took her hand. "I'm thirteen," he said. "I can handle a secret. And you seem so upset about it."

Her voice crystallized. "I don't want to talk about it. Let's go to bed now."

He followed her down the corridor and entered a large bedroom with wooden walls and a bed with dark pink sheets. But there's only one bed. Maybe I'll take the floor? Light Spinner didn't seem like that kind of exchange parent, though.

Light Spinner sat on her bed facing away from him, sighing and unhooking her veil from her pointed ears. She gazed ahead vacantly, her black lips in an exhausted frown and her cheeks hollow in the light of her bedroom.

Why does no one else want to know if she's okay? She looks weary. Old, even.

Her attention snapped to his, and she fastened the veil back on, her eyes wide. "Micah, what are you doing in here?"

He blushed deeply. "I...I don't know where to sleep."

Light Spinner sighed. "You share a room with your parents, don't you?"

"There's a curtain separating their bed from mine, but yes."

She walked out the door and beckoned to him, and he followed her into his actual room. He had a small bed with green covers, a desk, a large window overlooking the distant waterfalls, and a dresser.

Light Spinner sat down on the bed with him. "There are new clothes in the dresser for you. We wash our clothes once a week and ourselves every day."

Micah tilted his head. "You got me new clothes? Why are you spending so much money on me?"

Light Spinner paused, considering the question. "Because it was never put to good use before," she said as he lay on the bed. "Have a good rest. And Micah...next time, leave if you know I'm unveiled."

He blushed again. "Okay, Light Spinner. Goodnight. And...thanks."

"Goodnight." She left the room, closing the door and leaving Micah alone.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

● When we got the long-awaited Shadow Weaver face reveal, she didn't have black lips, but my headcanon is that was part of the *thing* that happened. (Fans will know.) I was too lazy to edit such a tiny detail out of my book.

Tell me what you think...

● How do you think Light Spinner is affected by Norwyn's words to her?