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Chapter Text

Whack!

"Ouch!"

Whack!

"Catra! Knock it off!"

Whack!

"Stop being an idiot and focus." Catra's voice echoes around her.

Whack!

"But, I'm blindfolded!" Adora pulls on the blindfold, uncovering an eye. "At least give me a chance to get my bearings!" right before she pulls the cover back over her eye, she hears somewhere in the shadows an amused grunt. Shit. another hit, this time to the back of her knee, forcing her to kneel.

"Now that Is a stance I'd like to see you in, but for other reasons." Adora could hear the smirk in Catra's voice, Adora's cheeks heat up. Taking a deep breath she focuses on honing in on her senses. The feeling of all her weight lifting, feeling weightless and the power slowly tingle at her fingertips. To her left, she can feel it, the stillness then the vibrations of Catra shifting her feet to push through her strike, but Adora could feel this one, at the last second before Catra could make contact with Adora's skull, Adora falls back flattening her back on the stone ground. A grin spreads across Adora's face. She hears Catra let out a noise almost like a growl, but it sounds more annoyed. She now can feel the vibrations coming off Catra, with all her senses, even though she can't see anything. Using the Guide to show her the light in the darkness, through heightened senses and using the vibrations to guide her. She can see where Catra is, it's almost like Catra is made out of tiny stars, bright ones to outline and dimmer ones to fill in, and in the center is a galaxy of them, swirling around a bright red star in the center of Catra's chest. Catra was the only person Adora knew to have a red star in the center of her galaxy. Most people had bright yellow stars or orange, and some had black holes in their center like Lady Weaver and Lord Prime. Those always made Adora feel a little off, they always made her feel like they were siphoning from everything around them, the opposite of when she was around Catra, when she saw Catra's, she always felt a pull and a sort of warmth. She was getting distracted again, Catra shifts again and swings down to strike down at Adora, but she sees this one coming clearly. Adora turns to her side.

Clack!

Quickly she grabs onto the staff and pushes her free hand out and releases a burst of energy from her palm towards Catra. But of course, Catra dodges giggling, "Come on, you can do better-" Adora sweeps her leg under Catra, which knocks Catra to the ground. Throwing her off her guard for a few seconds, giving Adora enough time to roll onto her front placing her palms on the ground and using an energy burst to push herself off the ground, she almost flawlessly pushes herself up right, but the burst was a little too strong so her feet were a few inches off the ground, throwing her off her balance for a second, causing her to flail her arms out then quickly getting her balance, straightening her red leather tunic and looking around as if to see if anyone saw her clumsy ass. Catra goes to swing at her legs, Adora jumps then aims an energy burst at Catra's hand holding the staff, making it fly across the room. Catra does a Kick-Up smirking.

"You see how I didn't flail around like a newborn deer?" Catra says rolling her shoulders then places her hands loosely in front of her face in a defense stance. "You're such a dork." Adora can see Catra's toothy smile clear as day in the tiny stars that make up her face. Adora shakes her head to clear it, almost fuzzing up Catra's features, just you know to help her not get distracted from details, not anything else, promise. Adora centers her weight and tightens her core, fists at her hips.

"Your dork though," Adora almost whispers.

Catra moves quickly, but Adora moves with her like they are almost dancing. Adora goes in for a hit, and Catra grabs onto her wrist and uses her own weight and momentum to push the hits away, and try and throw her off, but then Adora flicks her wrist to break the hold and ducks under a kick. They go back and forth blocking and trying to land hits on each other. Then Catra goes low and swipes under Adora's legs and Adora is on her back again. Knocking the air out of her lungs, the stars burst at that moment and then it's dark again. She hears Catra snicker and turn to walk away, but Adora will be damned if she walks away the winner, so she turns on her side and kicks Catra's legs out from underneath her. A high-pitched squeak comes out of Catra, she lands right on top of Adora.

"Ow! Your elbow is in my side!" Adora rolls over, to stop Catra's elbow from what feels like puncturing a vital organ.

Once on her back Adora realizes how close her and Catra are, and she stops breathing. The Stars come back to her, like running face first into a stone wall, it's almost dizzying. Catra lifts her head up to look at Adora, face mere inches away from Adora's. Her eyes were one of Adora's favorite things, especially when she used The Guide, they were so bright like gems on fire, one like a sapphire with blue flames, the other gold with an amber flame. She was definitely not breathing. Catra's eyes open wide for a split second, before they go back to their cool and collected selves again.

"You good, Princess?" a wide grin spreads across Catra's face. So bright, almost blinding Adora. Catra sits up straddling Adora, she reaches up to remove Adora's blindfold. Adora can hear her breathing stop, which reminds Adora she's been holding her breath and intakes some air.

"It gets me every time, your eyes are glowing so bright. No wonder Weaver loves you." Catra almost spits that last part out.

Adora shakes her head a little and her vision goes back to normal, and Catra is her Catra again, Dark curly hair wild but somehow perfect, freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks like the stars Adora sees using The Guide, then her eyes that are the same sapphire blue and gold just not engulfed in flames. Then Adora like always can't help but look down to Catra's lips, full and rosy. Catra licks her lips then smirks at Adora.

"You're drooling Greyskull." Catra purrs, placing her hand flat on Adora's sternum. "Now, you can drool all you want, or..." Catra trails her long nails down the side of Adora's neck. "You can do something about it."

Adora places her hand on Catra's cheek, "Can you blame me, your beauty stuns people into a stupor." Catra rolls her eyes at that, as Adora gives her a dopey grin.

Adora moves her thumb over Catra's bottom lip pulling it down slightly, "inside and out." slowly Adora threads her fingers through Catras hair, then gently pulls her down to close the distance between them, it's as electrifying as the first time they kissed. Adora loved it when Catra let herself be soft like this around her, kissing her soft and slow, taking their time, really breathing each other in, running their hands all over, roaming and actually feeling each other, pouring their feelings out physically, because they really couldn't do it verbally. The fear of Lady Weaver hearing anything would not end well for them, so they would steal kisses and hidden touches. Adora felt the footsteps approaching the training room, she quickly pushed Catra away from her as gently as she could.

"Someone is coming." Catra's eyes go wide and hops off of Adora. They both get up quickly, Adora straightens up her tunic, right when the door slams open Adora feels her feet being kicked out from under. Again. Her head is about to hit the stone floor-

Adora wakes up, covered in sweat. Her heart is racing. She sits up running her finger through her hair to try and prevent it from sticking to her face. This was the third time this week she has dreamt of her. After five years of nothing, why in The Guide's light would she start now?

There is a knock at her door, and then some muffled words. Probably Bow telling her that everything is ready for them to leave. She lays back down with a big huff. Another knock.

"I'm up Bow!" she grumbles.

"I'm going to wake Glimmer up at the very last minute before we leave. I don't want what happened at the South Rivers to happen again..." she can hear the fear in Bow's voice.

"I don't blame you. I'll be ready in a few minutes." Adora yawns.

"Alright, I made some oats and eggs for you in the kitchen, I'm going to the stables to get the horses." Bow says walking away.

Adora stretches wide on her bed, then sits up and gets out of bed. She stands in front of her water basin, looking at her reflection in the little dingy mirror above it. She sighs then plunges her face into the cool water, holding her breath then pulling her face out. She cleans up a little, laces up her red leather tunic, running her fingers over the stitched-up slash on the right. Blue and gold eyes full of hurt flash before her. She shakes her head.

"Please not today," she grabs her sword that was leaning against her nightstand, she fastens her sword to her back and heads to the door. She stops in front of the door, hand on the door knob, she squares her shoulders, and takes in a lung full of air and releases it slowly. "Just another day, we got this."

She heads down to the kitchen, she can smell freshly baked bread, which she is pretty sure is for their upcoming travels and not for breakfast. But a little piece won't matter much. She sits at the table and grabs a bowl and places a few scoops of oats into a bowl and eggs on a plate. She is in the middle of inhaling her food when she hears the back door open. Bow walks through dusting hay off his shoulder.

"Swifty?" Adora says mouth full, with food dripping down her chin.

"Yes, but he is just the cutest." Bow coos, "He was just excited for fresh Hay in the stalls, reminds me when he was small and the cutest goofy baby. Oh, how the years fly by!" He wipes a happy tear from his eye. "Anyways, I'm on my way to wake the beast. Wish me luck?" His face changes to worry.

"May The Guide light your path with grace." she runs her index and middle finger down her forehead to the tip of her nose, then points them towards him. He does the same motions and turns to run up the stairs muttering to himself, something about the South Rivers.

Adora inhales the rest of her food, getting up to move to the sink. As she looks out the window, she sees Swiftwind outside being a menace as always. He is grabbing the fresh hay Bow laid out for the horses and is throwing it in the air. His mane covered in little bits of hay, he had a long piece on the scruff on the top of his forehead, almost looking like a unicorn horn. Adora chuckles at that. She puts her dishes away and picks up an apple off the counter that she picked up from the market yesterday. Grabbing her bag she prepared last night by the back door. Always prepared and ready, always ahead of schedule too. She puts the strap on her shoulder and heads over to the stables.

Swifty notices Adora walking toward him and he whinnies. "Hello, how are you doing this fine morning? Besides Bow almost having a meltdown about how cute you are." giggling Adora pulls the apple out and hands it out for Swifty, he whinnies again and gently takes the apple from her, she swears he didn't chew at all, he swallowed it whole. 

Smiling, she goes into her saddle bag and pulls out his brush and starts to brush his main to clean out the hay he was throwing around. She loved these moments with Swifty, she didn't need to talk, he couldn't talk. It was moments of content silence, they understood each other. 

He was a spitfire, and she was the only one who could get him to do anything. Not that she tells him what to do at all times, just that she is the only one allowed to ride him, he doesn't really like people. He used to run from his original owners, escaping and letting all the other farm animals out. 

She was working on the farm at the time- Glimmer's parents farm, well the farm they owned out of the several. Glimmer's parents owned a lot of land, they had royal blood in them. Lost lands during The Dark War, a lot of Kingdoms fell during that time, Glimmer's family were victims to that. 

Adora worked at the stables at one of their farms, after her escape from Fright Castle she was walking down a path, there were a few horses loose out on the path and she could hear shrieks, so she ran towards it ready to help whoever it was that was in distress. And that's how she met Glimmer and Bow. Glimmer was the one shrieking, stressed about the fence that broke and let the horses out of the paddock, and Bow hands on her shoulders trying to calm a stressed Glimmer. She offered her help with wrangling the horses up and moving them back into the paddock, then helped fix the fence. As she was walking away back on her unknown path, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Bow smiling so gentle and kind at her. He asked for her to go back with them to feed her as a thank you. 

That's how she ended up working at the farm, and the way she met Swifty, he was an ornery little shit. But she seemed to be the only one to connect with him, and they were inseparable, he even would find a way out of the stables to find Adora, looking through the house and gardens. Eventually Adora just moved into the tack room of the barn, and seemed to be enough for Swifty, she didn't mind. She liked horses more than people. They were their true selves around her, and she never felt judged by them. Once Adora was done brushing Swifty she wraps her arms around his thick neck to give him a hug, and he returns it in his own way. Pulling away she starts petting him, feeling a lot better than she felt earlier in the day.

"BOW! I GET IT! NOW GET OUT!" Adora can hear Glimmer's door slam. A few minutes Bow walks outside with his and Glimmers bags.

"She will be down in a minute, it's looking like a good morning. She only threw one pillow at me!" Bow is beaming, so proud of himself.

"Well, that's better than yesterday's water jug." Adora touches a spot on her head where there was a lump from waking Glimmer yesterday.

Glimmer stomps outside, heads straight towards her horse and hoists herself up onto the saddle. Looking over at the other two she glares. "I thought we were leaving?"

"Yes!" Bow fastens their bags to their saddles, Adora does the same.

"Alright, you guys ready?" Adora puts on her gloves and navy-blue cloak, adjusting her wing fastener. "Glimmer did you eat?"

"No..." Glimmer grumbles, pulling her hood over her head, covering her purple and pink hair. She steers her horse towards the road. "Let's go!"

Adora pressed her forehead against Swiftys and closed her eyes, then pulled away and hoisted herself onto the saddle and they moved to follow Glimmer. Bow trots up to Glimmer, handing over something wrapped in paper. Glimmer looks over then takes it from Bow who is smiling at her, she smiles back and quietly thanks him. They ride in content silence, on their way to headquarters to see what their next mission is. Adora rolls her shoulders to get more comfortable. She runs her gloved fingers over the stitches on her tunic, not able to shake that dream she had. She needs to know what the dream means... If it even means anything. She is just pining like a youngling. Adora sighs and tries to take in her surroundings, trying to get her mind off of the one person in the world who Adora cared for the most.

Catra...

A couple hours go by in silence, mostly for Glimmer to fully wake up. They pull to the side of the dirt road for Bow to relieve himself. Adora gets off Swifty and starts checking that everything on him is secure and he is comfortable. Pulling her canteen out she cups her hand and fills it with water and offers it to Swifty. He laps up the water then moves to pinch at Adora's face with his lips.

"Ah! Gross!" she pushes his face away from her. He has the audacity to bare his teeth like he is smiling. "You dork." she walks over to Glimmer. "So... What do you think Queen Angella is going to say to what we found?"

"She isn't going to like it." Glimmer sighs as she slumps over, "And I know she isn't going to like the fact I almost blew our cover. But that ass hat had it coming, not my fault." she huffs.

"Well, we can leave that part out." Adora looks towards the forest. "We need to keep moving, the whispering woods are getting more and more dangerous." frowning Adora heads back to Swifty and gets on him.

"I feel much better!" Bow emerges from the forest line. "Thanks for stopping guys."

"What and bring you back to your fathers with piss-stained pants?" Adora raises an eyebrow.

"I- I'm an adult Adora! I would have been able to catch up!" his voice jumps an octave and cracks a little, "Besides that, the forest felt cold. Not a nice cold either, we should head back right aw-"

Adora felt a vibration from a tree twenty feet away, instantly she uses The Guide to use her senses. Her eyes start to glow bright blue, feeling the light flow her and to her fingertips. She sees the Arrow; a thick cluster of bright stars shape it out perfectly. She points her palm towards Bow and lets out a burst of energy toward his head. His eyes go wide, but the blast flies past his head and towards the arrow, knocking it out of its path to Bow's head. Bow ducks then runs to his horse to grab his bow and quiver. Securing the quiver to his back, he holds his bow out. He taps the shelf of the bow then pulls, an arrow slowly appears as he pulls until it fully appears, and he knocks it to the string. Bow's magical quiver and bow were a gift from Queen Angella, when he taps the shelf and pulls, it magically pulls from his quiver, almost like it's being pulled into it, but it's just reappearing to his bow. It was made so he could shoot multiple arrows, without wasting time grabbing behind him.

"Where?" Bow is shifting his aim at different trees.

"There," Adora uses another burst, but this time it hits someone, and they land on their back. "They are cloaking themselves! More than one, I see three!" Adora sees the other two retreat then out of nowhere their stars fade. Like they just vanished, the one that fell on their back is getting back to their feet. "I'll get that one, you both ride back I'll catch up"

"But-" Glimmer was cut off by a glare from Adora. "Just come back in one piece."

Adora jumps off Swifty and pulls her cloak off and throws it over her saddle. Unsheathing her sword, she walks through the brush and trees. She sees the figure stand fully, their stars are frantic, like they are nervous and scared. She can feel Bow and Glimmers horses galloping away. Now that she knows they are at a safe distance, she pulls energy to her free hand and faces it towards the figure, letting out another burst knocking them back again. She is close enough to hear them grunt. Once she is about five feet away from them, she notices who it is. Her eyes go wide.

"Kyle?" scrunching her eyebrows together she looks him up and down. "Did you grow a few inches"

"Yeah..." Kyle groans

Adora walks up to him and places two fingers to his forehead. "Sorry..." a little sparkle comes from her fingertips and instantly knocks him out. Sheathing her sword she ties his hands together, and the same to his ankles. She lifts him over her shoulder, looks around to make sure they are really not there. There is no way they would leave him, the three have always done everything together. She does one more glance through the trees then heads over to the road. She places Kyle as softly as she can onto Swifty's saddle. She pats Swifty on the neck.

"I'll give you a boost so you can get us to the others." She closes her eyes and tries to pull energy forward. When she can feel the energy pool into her hands, she moves in front of Swifty and places her hands on each side of his face. Letting the energy slowly seep out of her hands into Swifty. He huffs but only because it feels weird every time she does this, it doesn't hurt him, and he doesn't mind it. But she still feels bad every time she needs to do this. Once she feels all the energy she pooled is completely transferred she opens her eyes. Swifty's white coat is glowing a pure white, his mane shimmering every colour of the rainbow. He shakes his head then nods towards her. It's like she can sense him say it's alright and that they should move. She pulls herself onto Swifty. Her saddle is big enough for her and Kyle, or more of Kyle is just that small in stature that they both fit. She grabs hold of the reins and then they are off. Swifty gallops down the road at neck breaking speed. She swears she can feel Swifty laughing, but she just ignores it and focuses on catching up to Bow and Glimmer. The Horde just tried to kill Bow, not Glimmer or Adora. That was weird, and out of character for them. She needs to talk to Queen Angella and King Micha, there is something going on, stirring about. And she isn't sure what it is. But she can feel it in her bones. It isn't right.

****

A portal bursts open in the training hall of Fright Castle. Two figures stumble through, the third walks through it gracefully. The third is in a maroon cloak, the other two are in forest green ones.

"What the hell!" one of the green cloaks yells at the maroon. "You just left Kyle!" they pull their hood to show their face, her hair was shaved on the sides with braids running through the center down to her neck. The other green cloak grabbed her arm to pull her back from charging at the maroon cloak. He pulls his hood off to show a head of short hair, clean cut. His green eyes bore into hers, he shakes his head no. She yanks her arm away from him. "She left KYLE!"

"He got hit and didn't get up fast enough." a raspy voice came from the maroon cloak. "Now Lonnie, compose yourself." They pull their hood off to show long wild curls. "It was Adora..." Lonnie's eye widens. "She is with them, we couldn't take her. Not with arrow boy and glitter princess there, and you know it. And it's his fault we got caught"

"Catra, is he going to be, okay?" Lonnie looks down at her boots.

"Of course, it's Adora. She wouldn't let anything happen to him." Catra turns to look at Lonnie, both eyes glowing. "I'm counting on him telling her everything."

"You used him!" Lonnie is furious at this point, the man next to her wraps his arms around her to keep her from attacking Catra. "Rogelio let go!" he grunts and shakes his head.

"He'll be fine, relax." Catra goes to look at her nails, as though she is bored with the conversation. "Or take it up with Weaver." Catra smirks at that, because Lonnie stops fighting Rogelio. "That's what I thought." Catra heads to the door, hand on the latch. She sighs deflating a little. "Just so you know... I was against it..." she says under her breath. Unlatching the door, she walks through the halls. She ends up in the dining hall door, she rolls her shoulders then pushes through the doors. When the door opens there are two tables on each side of the big hall. And one thick hand crafted with horde designs all over it, black, green and red in what looks like cracks all over it, a grand table with only two seats at it, one is grand and green, the other smaller and red. Lord Prime and Lady Weaver, sitting at the table, don't even notice Catra walk up and kneel in front of the table. Lady Weaver then finally looks up after taking a long sip from her goblet.

"Capitan D'riluth... is it done?" Catra's skin scrawls every time she hears Weaver's voice, "Or seeing that traitor mess with your small witted mind?" Weaver almost burns holes into Catra's eyes, but Catra will be damned before she backs down.

"It is done." Catra glares at Weaver.

"Good, now get out of my sight." she waves Catra away.

"What about-"

"Get out!" Weaver's voice echoes through the hall.

Catra looks down at her boots, trying her best to keep her emotions in check. She slowly stands, nods her head then turns on her heel and walks out of the hall. Seconds later she is at her chambers, she doesn't remember getting there. All she knows she is full of something; she can't pinpoint it. So, she lashes out, grabbing her water basin and throws it across the room at the fireplace, the fire almost goes out, it's fighting to stay alive. She turns to her mirror and stares at her reflection. Her eye's start to glow and get brighter as the fire slowly dies out.

"I will get you, Adora. And we will finish what you couldn't years ago" tears start to stream down her face.

Chapter Text

No one really knows what The Guide is, or how it really works. The First Ones were the original users of it, the true power of the guide. Everyone who uses its power merely uses a fraction of it, they can cast spells and use the energy from their cores. But the first ones could harness the power from suns, and the reflection of light from the moon, unless on a moonless night, that is the most vulnerable they become. And very skilled ones who have mastered channeling the guide could siphon energy from nearby stars. 

A thousand years before the Dark War, there was peace among the land, the First Ones walked among the people, taught them how to use the Guide, how to harness power and energy from their cores. They helped train and educate the people of Etheria on it. They continued on for many years doing so. Until a Lord name lost to time from the east came through and sought the power for himself. He found a way he could drain the energy that a star emits. From a First One, it was a very sinister and gruesome act, when He siphoned the energy from them, it left them hollow shells. Beings emptied and left hollow, their grey eyes that had shimmer of stars in them, would go completely black, as if emptied out of all light. And that is when the great hunt started, the Lord would send out hunting parties to gather all the First Ones he could find, so he could siphon their powers. 

The First Ones believed in a chosen warrior named She-Ra that they believed would come and save them from the evil Lord, but she never came. They gave up hope of her ever showing so they went into hiding. The First Ones disappeared after years of being hunted. The evil Lord took over the Eastern side completely, and would reward anyone who would turn in partials, people who have some First Ones blood in their lineage, and he would siphon what he could from them, they didn’t have as much energy or power as the originals, but it was still more than what the Etherians could produce. 

That evil Lord eventually had heirs and taught them his ways of siphoning. And a thousand years later his kin would start the Dark War. 

Lord Prime had his spies and informants work hard in finding the last of the First Ones. He was determined to finish what his ancestors started. When the day came that he got the news of a sighting in the whispering woods, it was the first time anyone had seen him smile since his birth. He was not one for showing emotion unless it was boredom or disgust. He was a rigid man, tall, pale skin, sickening green eyes so pale, when they locked on you, you could feel the chill of his stare. He always wore white and pale green robes with the hood up. No one knew why he always had it up, there were the rumors of deformities, or he was bald and was self-conscious about it. No one really knew. 

But that day he smiled so wide it made everyone in the room uncomfortable. The head of the Unseen had slinked into the throne room, movement so fluid. The grace they had and the loose sheen black fabric flowing around them, with the black skin fitted leotard on, long platinum hair with yellow eyes that could pierce through stone. Once they approached Lord Prime’s throne, they curtsied bowing their head low.

“Lord Prime, the unseen has good news for you,” the figure looked up with a sly smile on their face, “it seems we have found where the First ones are hidden.”

That is when Lord Prime smiled, smiled so wide all of his sharp white teeth showed. “Well done DT, you will be rewarded heavily. After, of course.” DT’s smile faded, but did not say anything further, they were smart ass but knew when to shut up. “Where have they been hiding?”

“My Lord, they are hidden in the whispering woods. Seems they have been there for a long time, very recluse. They do not travel out, but there was a sickness going around and they needed medicine, and that is where we followed them from the Theymor market.” DT bowed their head again.

“Good work, very good work.” Lord Prime tapped his finger on the arm of his throne. He looked over at a burly knight clad in black and green trimmed armor “Huntara, ready troops.” he stood. “We have some hunting to do.”

“Yes, my Lord!” she bowed her head and left immediately. 

***

“Adora! Adam!” Marlena shouted, “come on! No fair, you two are the best at hiding!” hearing giggling coming from above her, she knew her children were up in the tree, putting her hands on her hips she looked around, “oh where, oh where could my little stars be?” more giggling from above her. Looking up she looked surprised, “Oh how did you get up there!”

“Mom! You knew the whole time!” a giggling Adora through her tiny hands.

“Yeah, it was so fake!” Adam scrunched up his face.

“Well, I could pretend not to know you are up there and give up.” she smiled. “and I can eat the delicious pie Razz made for us. All. By. Myself.”

“No!” the twins yelled together, scrambling to get out of the tree at the same time.

“Careful! Adam don't push your sister like that!” she scolded.

The twins safely got to the ground, grabbing hold of their mother's hand. They ran towards the house, not getting their fast because Marlena was leaning away from them, “Oh but I am so tired, carry me my loving children?” she started to fall back.

“Mom, come on the pie!” they both said at the same time.

Marlena just laughed at them and walked at her normal pace, “Fine, both your heads reside in your stomachs.” she started to hear commotion nearby. “What in the grace of the Guide is going on…” she can see Randor and Mara running towards her.

“Marlena, we need to leave, they have found us.” his breathing was heavy, he had a bag over his shoulder and his sword, Mara looked wide eyed and shaken. She didn’t waste time she knelt down to the children and held onto their shoulders; they knew they needed to listen because their mother only ever did this when she was being serious.

“Now listen to me, when we say run. You run like you are racing your father and I. Don’t look back. If you don’t see us, stay with Mara, she is in charge until we see each other again.” She looked at both of them. “Is that clear?” they both nodded tears in their eyes, she could hear screaming all around them. Marlena hugged them both and kissed them both on the cheek. “My beautiful stars, I love you.” She got up and looked at Mara, gave her a hug. “Please take care of them.” Mara had tears in her eyes, she couldn’t form words, she only nodded. Randor handed Mara the bag and sword. He looked down at his children ruffled their hair with a smile.

“It’ll be okay my little warriors. Take care of each other. Now go!” He ushered them to the edge of the forest.

Mara led the children through the whispering woods, she was to go south to the Two Rivers, the twins both looked back to see their parents standing there waving until the brush got too thick, they couldn’t see through it. 

It felt like hours of walking, Mara was surprised the children weren’t crying or fussing at all, they looked almost determined. They walked in silence for a while until Mara stopped and crouched down, she heard something in the woods. Mara had some hunting skills she learnt from her mother, but she wasn’t a master hunter. She was only twelve years old. She needed to focus, because it didn’t just affect her, she had her cousins with her too. Then she heard someone running.

“Over here! Children!” a man shouted.

“Run!” Mara whispered loudly, still not wanting to give away their spot completely. And they did just that, they ran through the brush and trees. Mara eventually picked them both up and ran, she ran as fast as her legs could take her, she took a sharp left to try and lose them. It worked, at least she thought it did. They were by the two rivers, it was what it was called, two rivers next to each other, but they flowed in opposite directions. Mara placed the children down running to the water, she fell to her knees and cupped water to her mouth so she could drink, her throat was so dry from running with two kids, a bag and a heavy sword. Once done with drinking she looked to her side and saw the twins doing the same as her, she smiled slightly at them. The she heard shouting again grabbing the sword and Adam’s hand and she turned to them.

“Hold on and whatever you do, don’t let go.” she said sternly. They both nodded.

Adora took hold of Mara’s belt, they started walking through the river, the current was pretty strong, and the children would lose their footing every few steps. Then there were soldiers, they were everywhere on the shoreline of the river, Mara sped up, and in doing so jerked too hard, and Adora slipped. Her grasp was gone. Mara felt the tug on her belt disappear.

“Adora!” Adam yelled “Mara! Adora fell! She’s floating away!” 

Mara stopped, she grabbed Adam, picked him up and held him close. “Don’t let go and hold on tight!” He nodded, but she didn’t wait for the confirmation, she jumped in the deeper end of the river and floated down, she used her legs to kick up so they could get some air. She didn’t know if this plan was going to work, she just hoped they hit something shallow soon.

When she felt she could stand in the water, she steadied herself, pulling Adam away from her to make sure he was alright. He was coughing up water but otherwise was fine. She looked around her, she couldn’t see Adora anywhere, and she didn’t want to risk yelling her name. Fear of the soldiers finding them, Adam started crying and all Mara could do was hold him close and try and calm him, telling him everything will be alright. Mara carried Adam across the other river in the shallow ends. Looking back over her shoulder she let a sob out, she lost her home, her family. It was just her and Adam from now on, and she swore then and there, she would never lose anyone again.

***  

Adora’s little arms were flailing all over the place, she was panicking, every time she would come up for air she felt like she would be pulled deeper down under the water. She was starting to lose consciousness when she felt herself being tugged and then yanked out of the water, everything was blurry, but she felt dry land. She started coughing and then vomited everywhere. 

“What wer yah doin in tha river?” she couldn’t see where the voice was coming from, she felt so dizzy from being so disoriented from the water. “Aye lass, wha happened?” she shakes her head and looks up to see a man, her father's size standing over her. “Maybe ya a mute. Oh well, come on then. I’m gon take ya to Jess, she takes care of lost kids, she should know wha to do with yah.” he started walking away. Adora got up, shook her head again and followed the man, they walked in silence. 

The man took her to a house with a bunch of children running around, he took her inside and introduced Jess and walked out without saying anything. Jess was an older lady with dark hair and kind eyes. She asked Adora a few questions, but Adora refused to speak, Jess told her it was fine, and she could speak to her whenever she was ready. Days turned into weeks, Adora didn’t say a word, she barely got out of the little cot that was set up for her, she barely ate. She missed her family, she just wanted to go home, but deep down inside she knew they were all gone, she lost them, she had one job and that was to hold on. And she couldn’t do that. 

One day Adora lay curled up in the cot like usual, she could hear the other kids whispering like they usually do, they were talking about her again, she pulled the covers over her head. Then she heard commotion outside. There was screaming, it sounded like a little girl. Adora shot up out of her cot and ran to the window, all the other children joined. She saw a wagon pull up, and a mean man hop off from it, she didn’t like the energy coming off from him. Then she heard the scream again as he pulled a little girl by the hair off the wagon and threw her at Jess’s feet, a head of curly wild hair, scrawny too. The man was yelling at Jess, something about stealing beets. The girl crossed her arms across her chest glaring at the ground, Jess was apologizing to the man and handed him some coin, he took it and left. Jess knelt down to the little girl and was talking to her; the girl shook her head and stormed past Jess into the house. Once in the house she walked over to Adora’s cot and laid in it. Adora looked around at the other children, they looked wide eyed and left the room. Adora sucked up the courage and walked up to the girl. She tapped her shoulder.

“Uhm, this is my cot.” Adora was fiddling with her hands, the girl didn’t budge, she didn’t even look like she acknowledged Adora’s presence. “Uhh… hello?”

“Leave me alone!” the girl shoved Adora.

“Hey, that's not nice!” Adora pulled the blanket off. “Get out of my spot!”

“Leave me alone, idiot!” the girl got up and shoved Adora, so she shoved back. They ended up tumbling around on the ground hitting and pulling hair. The wild girl ended on top of Adora. 

“Haha! I pinned you!” She was smiling.

“Woah!” Adora couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Your eyes!” the girl's eyes were beautiful. One amber the other blue.

The girl hurried off of Adora and sat on the cot, her head to the side, “shut up, I know… they scare everyone…”

“What, No! I like them!” Adora stood in front of the girl. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that…” the girl looked up at her.

“Do you really mean that?” she shrunk into herself.

“I don’t lie. Yes, I meant it.” Adora says smiling.

“Well, I like your eyes too.” the girl smiled back. 

“My name is Adora, what’s yours?” Adora asked, kneeling down to the girl’s level.

“My name is Catra.” she said with a smirk.

***

Adora slowed down Swifty once she saw the gates, she slowed him to a trot. Once the gate was open, she headed to the main entryway, hopped off Swifty. Grabbing on to Kyle’s passed out body hauling him over her shoulder grunting.

“Damn Kyle, you sure are heavy for how small you are…” she chuckled to herself. Walking up the steps she could see Glimmer and Bow walking quickly towards her.

“Thank all that is light and bright! I was so fucking worried Adora!” Glimmer all but shrieked.

“What she means to say is, we are glad you are okay.” Bow corrected Glimmer, she just let out a huff.

“Yeah whatever, let’s get this goon into a cell.” she mutters.

“Goon? Yeah, no this is Kyle. Far from, Goon.” Adora laughs.

“Wait, you know him?” Bow looks frantically between Kyle and Adora.

“Yeah, he is from the horde, he was a cadet with me. We trained together and stuff.” Adora could feel them both stop in their tracks.

“Maybe we should take it from here, because, if this is going to affect-” Glimmer was cut off by Adora.

“No, it won’t. We weren’t close. Not like-” Adora shook her head. “We were cadets, that’s it. But I know enough about him, and that will be an advantage.”

Adora continues to walk towards the cells. Bow and Glimmer are behind her arguing amongst themselves, she doesn’t care enough to listen.

Once in the cell’s she goes to the closet one and lays Kyle’s limp body onto the cot, closes the cell door then walks right past the bickering duo. She heads towards her chambers, but feels arms wrap around her, picking her up and twirling her around. 

“Adam put me down!” Adora was laughing.

“Oh, but I missed my most favoritest sister in the galaxy!” he squeezed tighter before setting her down. 

Adora turns to her brother clasping onto his forearm and bringing their foreheads together. “I missed you too brother, where is Mara?” she checked behind his shoulder as if she would pop out.

“Probably face in between Hope’s legs.” Adam put his hands to his face and shook it in them.

“You are such a crude man.” Adora shoved her brother's shoulder.

“You are just a prude! No shame in it though loving sister” He had his signature shit eating grin. “Both of us couldn’t be sexy beasts with the prowess of a god or goddess.” he chuckled as he dodged a hit from his sister.

“By the light I wish you would just shut up.” she rolled her eyes at him and headed towards her chambers again. “And do not follow me!” 

“As you wish!” He deepened his voice in a joking manner.

“By the light of the Guide, how am I related to that man?” Adora smiles to herself. 

She reaches her chambers, closing the door behind her and rests her back on it. Sliding down pulling her knees to her chest. That was Kyle in a cell. She is going to have to explain all of this to Queen Angella. Adora was already tired from sleepless nights. Now she is fearing the Horde is on the move again. No, she knows. She also knows that Ro and Lonnie would never leave Kyle behind. There is something more going on here. She needs to talk to the Queen fast. She gets up off the ground, she walks up to her water basin, looking in the mirror she fixes her hair then heads out. 

Adora was on her way to the throne room. 

Crash

Adora turns around hand ready at the pommel of her sword. When she notices two people hurrying to pick up a broken vase. She squints trying to make out who it was. Walking closer she recognizes who it is.

“Mara?” Adora raises an eyebrow.

“Oh! Adora, you are back!” She frantically looks at Adora then the door, then back at Adora.

“Why are you breaking vases outside…” Adora glances at the door. “Hope’s chambers?”

Mara blushes for fierce she looks like a cherry. 

Adora busts out laughing, “Oh cousin, I am messing with you. Have fun. Just, stop breaking things. Yeah?” Adora turns around and returns to her route.

“I-I… You little shit.” she hears Mara whisper “No, I don’t- Of course she knows!” 

Then Adora laughs harder when she hears Hope’s voice go, “Oh… Well shit…”

Once at the door to the throne room, Adora waits for her name to be announced to the Queen and King. The doors were big and covered in pastel. Adora wasn’t used to the bright colours of Brightmoon at first, used to the dark dank colours or lack thereof, of the Horde. The doors open and Adora hears her name and title announced, it always makes Adora smile, she never thought in her life she would be a knight, and here she is walking in a palace with that title, which she fully earned. The grueling training, she went through, nothing like the Horde of course, but the way they teach to use the Guide here was healthier on the core, but also a lot harder because they don't teach to siphon, but to exchange. 

She hurried up to the throne kneeling head down.

“Queen Angella, I have brought one of the three that attacked Bow and Glimmer.” Adora tries to keep her voice steady.

“You as well, and he will be punished for it. Once we know more of why.” the Queens voice was so soft and angelic. Adora looks up to see the Queen smiling at her. “Please stand Sir Greyskull, no need to stay kneeling. How are you doing?”

“I’m doing alright…” Adora was confused. “I think the Horde is planning something I don’t know what though. Kyle-the prisoner. He has two others that would never leave him behind. They always do everything together, so for them to separate with him, it's very suspicious.” she takes a breath not knowing she said all of that at once.

“You know this, Kyle?” The Queen looks concerned. “Maybe we should leave the interrogation in Juliet’s hands for now.”

“My Queen, Knowing Kyle does not affect my abilities.” Adora is irritated, “We knew each other as children that is it, then I defected. I was not that close to him, I promise you.”

“I will give you this chance, but if anything is to happen, Juliet is to take your place.” Adora nods at that.

“That is all I ask, to prove myself.”

“We talked about this, Adora.” The Queen gives her a sad look. “You have nothing to prove anymore, we trust you, and your judgment.” she smiles at Adora. “But before you do that, please eat and rest, then you may start.”

Adora bows deep then turns on her heel and walks out of the throne room, she heads down the stairs to the courtyard. Her feet are moving automatically, she ends up at a willow tree. A grand thing, it must be hundreds of years old. Adora sits at the trunk and just takes in the fresh air, the sound of the fountain, the birds chirping. She closes her eyes for a few minutes just taking in the calm. She knows the calm won’t last for long, she knows the Horde is up to something, and knowing Weaver it isn’t going to be good.

Adora’s thoughts go back to a simpler time. A time when it was just her and a wild haired girl with an amber and blue eye.

Chapter Text

“By the light of the stars, Svend. Everything you make is sent from the gods, I swear!” Adora said in between bites of her sandwich, “as simple as a sandwich, made into art.” pressing the remainder of her sandwich in her mouth with one hand, the other is grabbing another sandwich from the platter littered with them. Svend sighs, shaking his head.

“Bow and Glimmer came down to the kitchens, telling me to make sure to make plenty for lunch. Like I don’t already know how the Greyskulls eat. All of you bottomless pits! Mara the other day, ate three! Let me repeat, three roasted hens! And Adam made it a competition! Eating three and a half! And they just walked off, and went to the training grounds, as if they didn’t eat ten pounds of food!” The shock on Svend’s face made Adora chuckle. Oh, how she loved her family. Swallowing her big mouthful and washing it down with ale, wiping at her mouth with her sleeve.

“I could have eaten five.” Grinning, she dodges a rag thrown her way.

“The Greyskulls will eat us out of house and home, I swear!” He says loudly, no malice in his voice. Adora knows it, for her family is making his job at Brightmoon a very permanent one.

“But you would be so bored feeding these dainty people.” Adora laughs, patting her stomach. “You are lucky Bow fed me before our long travels. I would have eaten this whole tray!” she stands brushing the crumbs off her tunic, smiles at Svend. “But I do thank you from the bottom of my stomach, for being able to keep up with us.” Svend just grunts at her.

“Get out of my kitchen, you heathen.” He grabs another rag and wipes down the table.

“Once again, thank you Svend.” and with that Adora leaves the kitchens, heading to the main hall. 

Once she is caught up with the others, they head to the cells. Adora starts to head to the cell Kyle was placed in, when she hears Bow clear his throat. 

“We already placed him in the interrogation room.” he nervously rubs the back of his neck. “We gave him some food and water, Adora he looked malnourished. He acted like he never had real food before…”

“Because he probably never has.” Adora’s eyes glaze over remembering the ‘ration bars’ they were made to eat as a cadet. They were thick and grainy, if you were lucky, you would have three a day, but sometimes the weaker ones didn’t always get the amount they needed. The Horde made you fight for everything, even food. They only believed the strongest could survive. That’s why Rogelio and Lonnie stuck to Kyle, they were all very close, and would do anything for each other. But even with having the two bigger kids helping him, it didn’t stop the higher in command bullying him, Rogelio and Lonnie knew their places, and wouldn’t interfere. But under the cloak of night, they would take care of him. To be honest she is surprised he has survived this long with the Horde. She for sure thought he wouldn’t have made it, but she is happy she was wrong.

“What do you mean?” Bow looked so sad, such a caring soul.

“They would give us ration bars, all the nutrients we needed, easier to make those out of who knows what, than feed us real food. They were raising an army, not people.” Adora says, eyes anywhere but at her friends' eyes. Bow places a hand on Adora’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. 

“Hey, you aren’t there anymore, and if we can get anything from him, maybe we can get more to defect. They were made into this, it doesn’t mean it’s who they are.” giving her a reassuring smile, Bow removes his hand and nods towards the room where Kyle is held, “Let's see what we can do.” he turns and walks towards the room. Adora follows but feels a hand slip into hers, looking over she sees Glimmer looking concerned.

“Are you fucking sure you are up to this, cause I swear to all the stars in the sky, I will beat your ass.” She says with a tilt of a smile on her lips. 

“Yes, Glimmer I’m okay,” Adora pulls Glimmer into a tight hug. “I’ll be fine, I can handle this, I have to be able to.” Glimmer’s muffled voice sounded like she said something along the lines of ‘You better fucking be.’ Adora pulled away laughing.

“You feisty little shit, now stop wasting our time making sure I’m okay.” Adora and Glimmer walk hands still linked as they make their way to the room. 

Kyle was seated at a table with an emptied plate in front of him, he had more colour to his face, and life in his eyes. Once he saw Adora his face showed a mixed feeling of delight and fear, his eyes glancing down to her and Glimmer’s hands. Adora quickly let go, earning a weird look from Glimmer. Clearing her throat, she stood in front of Kyle.

“What were you doing in the woods?” She looks Kyle dead in the eye.

“It was supposed to be intel only! I swear! I’m sorry about the arrow! Lonnie was aiming at a rabbit so we had food, and I tripped! And her arrow went toward you guys instead. I swear!” He was shaking with fear. Adora sat down in the chair, clasped her hands together and placed them on the table.

“Who else was with you, and what kind of entail?” Adora gave him a stern look.

“Rogelio, Lonnie and Catra.” He continued to say other words, but Adora felt a ringing in her ears, did he just say Catra. But she only saw three figures. All with yellow stars, Catra’s star is red. Adora felt a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to reality. “-I can’t- I can’t tell you anymore, they still have them. I will not.” he looked nervous then it all melted away. “I will not put Ro and Lonnie in danger. Do what you must, I don’t care. If you want more intel on the Horde you need to get them out first.” he straightened his back and leveled Adora with a hard glare.

“You said Catra was there-” Adora started.

“Are you fucking serious Adora-” Glimmer almost yelled.

“It’s not like that Glim.”

“It sure as hell does, he is giving us way more than I thought he would, and you are over here asking about Catra!”

“I didn’t see her! When I used the Guide, I didn’t fucking see her… I only saw three. Kyle, how the hell did Catra cloak herself from the Guide?” Adora’s eyes never left Kyle’s.

“I am not sure… But-” his expression faltered a little. “I am not sure.”

“Kyle tell me or so help me-” Adora was cut off by Glimmer.

“Adora, we need to inform my mother.” Glimmer sounded worried. Adora only nodded. Eyes not moving from Kyle, she flattened her hands out onto the table, pooling energy to her hands. Before she says anything, she makes sure Bow and Glimmer are far away enough to not hear.

“Now Kyle, we either do this the easy way, or the hard way. The Easiest way is to tell me. Or I force myself into your mind, and I will tell you now, it is not pleasant.”

“H-How unpleasant?” Kyle is slightly shaking now.

“The feeling of another mind looking through yours, feels like a snake is slithering through your mind, but the snake is covered in blades. Sometimes it takes years to recover from the invasive act. Your memories will be clouded, sometimes not knowing who you are and what is real. Sometimes the person who is in your mind can alter your memories. Only three people I know are able to do such a gruesome act.” she taps her fingers on the table, little sparks coming out of her fingertips. “Prime, Weaver and,” Adora lets a sinister smirk slip. “The person sitting right in front of you.” Kyle clears his throat. “So, what will it be?”

“Sometimes I hear things, because well you know, people act like they don’t see or hear me. So, I just listen, I may not be strong like the rest of you, I’m not the warrior type. But I have my wits, and thankfully I am small enough to hide in the shadows and listen to what they say.” he intakes some air, almost like he is trying to calm himself. “Catra has been training with Weaver… And-and one day Catra was sent on a mission, she came back empty handed, and Weaver lost it, she took Catra into Weaver's study. When she came out, she wasn’t the same, she was different, like a shell of who she was. But she still can use the Guide. It’s weird, she can use the Guide, but you can’t see her anymore.” Kyle’s eyes were brimming with tears. “I think Weaver did something horrible to her that she shut herself off from everyone.” he wipes at his tears. “That is all I know about Catra…” he sniffles. “The rest you will get, once you receive Ro and Lonnie…” he looked almost defeated.

“I promise, by the light of the Guide I will bring them back to you.” Adora pulls back all the energy from her hands, pulling it back to her core. She places her hand out for Kyle. “I will bring you your family back, and we will end the Horde.” Kyle grabs onto Adora’s forearm. 

“We will end the Horde.” He says words thick with emotion. “Thank you Adora…”

“Don’t thank me, you are still a prisoner until we can make sure what you are saying is correct.” she lets Kyle go standing. “For now, rest, and enjoy real food for once.” Kyle smiles up at her. She gives him a slight nod, stands and heads out of the room stopping to give the guards orders to place him back in his cell.

When Adora enters the main hall, she sees Adam with a grim look on his face.

“They are all in the war room, I told them I would wait for you.” he nods towards her.

They walk in silence to the war room, once at the door, her hand on the doorknob Adam’s hand stops hers from opening the door. Thinking he is going to tell her what everyone else has been saying to her since Kyle showed up, she looks at him glaring, but he surprises her.

“I am with you, all the way. I fully trust your judgment. Whatever happens in there.” he points to the war room. “I have your back, Family first.” he places a hand on her shoulders, like their mother did, to show he was serious. “I always do, and always will.” Adora just looks back at the door.

“Thank you…” she quietly says, then opens the door. The room wasn’t a big one, just enough room for a round table with a moving map of Etheria in the middle, chairs surrounding it with each head member of the rebellion, and a table with snacks. Brightmoon was big on always feeding and watering their people, making sure they had their strength. Adora and Adam walk up to their chairs and sit waiting for Queen Angella to start the meeting.

“The Horde is tailing us on our missions. The reason they stopped attacks I think may be to gather intel, on our routes and possibly identify our people.” She looks around looking every person in the eye, giving everyone equal attention as she speaks. “I am stopping all travel from Brightmoon, and calling our people home. We need to be ready for an attack if there is to be one. The Horde seems to be gathering intel as to place an attack. I will be communicating with the groups out there and informing them to come straight home. No one is to leave Brightmoon until we get more intel.” she clasps her hands together. “Are there any questions?” A woman with blue eyes and purple hair raised her hand. “Yes, Spinnerella?”

“What about the villages? The ones outside of Brightmoon, are they to join us?” Spinnerella looked worried.

“I have already sent messages to them, offering safety at Brightmoon. But in the end, it is up to them if they want to enter or not. Once the gates are closed, they will be closed until further notice.”

“But what about getting Ro and Lonnie, Kyle won’t tell us more until we have them.” Adora’s brows furrowed. “If we can’t leave, then how are we to retrieve them?”

“And take word from a Horde officer? Yeah right. Fucking Horde scum” Glimmer shot at Adora.

“Last I checked I used to be ‘Horde scum’ too.” Adora glared at Glimmer, who looked shocked at what she said.

“Adora, I didn’t mean-” Glimmer was cut off.

“You meant it, and Adora has done enough for us to show it is possible to change.” Adam says with a hard face. “We could send a small group to get Ro and Lonnie, meet up in the crimson waste. There is someone there that could help us stay under radar. An ex high official of the Horde, if anyone could get into Fright Castle undetected it would be them.” crosses his arms on his chest.

“Adam is right,” Bow looks around the table, “Adora has done so much for the rebellion. What is the point of a rebellion if we don’t get people to rebel?” 

“I agree.”

“As do I.”

“Ugh, I agree just to get this over with.”

“Exactly as my beautiful Mermista said! I agree as well”

Angella stood lost in thought, then looked directly at Adora. “I will grant you that, but at any sign that you or anyone is to be in any peril, you head back to the safety of our gates.” Adora nods. “Then that is all, those who will be going with Adora stay, otherwise we are done here.” she sat back down, and a few people left, the rulers of old kingdoms like Mermista of Salineas, Frosta of the Frozen tundra, Netossa and Spinnerella whose kingdoms fell thousands of years ago now only nobles left the room, as they still had people they had to take care of or kingdoms to go to and close their gates for their safety. 

All that was left was Adora, Glimmer, Bow, Adam, Mara, and Perfuma. Angella looked at Glimmer with a stern look.

“I’m going with Adora, it is my duty. We need them, so Kyle can tell us the intel we need.” Glimmer stood to her highest high she could manage, which wasn’t much for someone so short, but she stood strong, defiant in front of the Queen.

“I know,” Queen Angella’s face softened into a smile. “So much like your father. Just make sure to meet him in the library before you go.” with that she stood looking at each and everyone. “May the light of the Guide bless you with safe travels.” her eyes gleamed with tears, “Glimmer be sure to debrief me before you head out.” Glimmer nods. And with that the Queen makes her exit, she opens the door slightly but stops. “Take care of each other.” and walks out of the war room.

“Okay, so we head to the Crimson waste, so we go undetected to Fright Castle. But the question is, how do we get to the Crimson waste without being detected?” 

“Flowers.” the tall blonde with a pink flower in her long wavy hair said, she giggled at everyone's confusion. “There is a wagon of flowers that comes in from Plumeria every week, it so happens to be the day it comes, and will head back out to Plumeria tomorrow morning. If we hide in the wagon on the way there, they will think we are still in Brightmoon.” she smiles.

“Brilliant idea Perfuma!” Bow says excitedly, placing his fingers on the moving map he zooms it out to show brightmoon, Plumeria and the Crimson waste. “Plumeria is out of the way for the horde, the thick of the whispering woods are in the way of them finding us there, plus all the live plants there would protect us, especially with their Princess with us.” Bow smiles at Perfuma, and she blushes. 

“Yeah, yeah. Okay we get there and what?” Glimmer is glaring at Perfuma, oh by the light Adora can’t handle this right now. 

“Well, there is a path, only our people know that will lead you to the Crimson waste.” Perfuma is unfazed by Glimmer’s angry tone and death stare.

“That works for me.” Adam says smiling. “Now are we done here, I am starved!”

“You are always starving young cousin.” Mara laughs. 

“You all go on ahead, I'll meet you there.” Adora looks down at the map, pulling out her notebook and starts writing down all the supplies they will need. She studies the map looking at the terrain and the gear that will be needed for the journey. She then realizes she isn’t alone. Looking over her shoulder she sees her cousin and brother standing there, arms crossed on their chest with annoyed looks on their face. “What?” Adora is confused on the reason of their annoyance.

“Were you ever going to ask for help?” Mara asks quirking an eyebrow. 

“I… uhh…” Adora opens and closes her mouth. “No?”

“That’s what I thought,” Adam walks towards her, snatching her notebook, ignoring her annoyed gasp and attempting to grab it back. “You know, I do know how to write. You aren’t the only smart one here.”

“That is debatable,” Mara says under her breathe. “Not one brain cell between the two of you.”

“Ah, wonderful wise Mara. What do they say? With age comes wisdom?” Adam jokes, earning a smack to the back of his head.

“If you know what is right for you, you will shut up and write everything Adora and I tell you to.” that earns a laugh from Adora, smiling she looks back to the map.

“Thank you, I appreciate this.”

“What is family for?” Adam says. “Now let us start. Food.” they all start laughing. It felt good to be with them again.

When Adora first defected she was eighteen, when she found Glimmer and Bow it was shortly after that. She was with them on the farm until they were both eighteen which was two years later. They headed to Brightmoon to help with the rebellion, the way both Glimmer and Bow talked about stories of Micha and Bow’s fathers working together to fight off the Horde, and how Micha found two wanderers who were just trying to find a home, away from the Horde. He took them in, and one day they finally told him the story of how they became homeless, and orphaned. That's when Adam broke down and told Micha how he missed his twin sister, and how he lost her to the Twin Rivers. That’s when Micha asked her name and was floored when Adam said Adora. Micha asked him to describe her, Adam said it was so long ago he could barely remember her face. But Mara remembered, and she in detail described Adora. And Micha told them with tears in his eyes he might have good news. He told them he had a farm hand who has been working for him for two years and has recently wanted to join the rebellion like them and would like to introduce them. He told the guards to get Glimmer and her friends, knowing Adora would definitely be with them. Adam and Mara were confused when he said that, not knowing how that was good news. Glimmer showed up with two others, Micha introduced Glimmer and Bow but when Adora pushed past Glimmer eyes wide. She ran to them holding them both close, she it was them; she could feel it. And so did they, they stood there holding each other crying with happiness. 

She pulled away to get a good look at them, Adam was the same height as her, he wasn’t the scrawny little kid anymore, he was built sturdy, not like an ox, but he was broad shouldered. And Mara with her signature long braid of brown hair, was taller than both of them, she also was built like she could carry them both like she did in the forest. She ruffled her brother's hair, making fun of how he was trying to look like her. And he said he could say the same about her, because who gave her the gaul to have almost as much muscle mass as him. She laughed at that and hugged him, they sat for hours talking, not knowing everyone left the room for them to spend time well deserved together. Adora had her family back, not that Glimmer and Bow weren’t her family. She just has her lost family back. She was happy, and content. Even though deep down inside her she knew she was still missing one more piece to her family.

Chapter Text

Adora closed her leather-bound notebook, feeling the soft leather of the strap as she wound it around the notebook to secure it. She let out a long deep sigh. Adam and Mara left a couple hours ago, Adam kept telling Adora they had everything, and she didn’t need to keep rechecking her notes. Mara picked up on Adora’s frustration with her brother; she grabbed him by the shoulders and steered him out of the room, with promises of roasted chicken. Adora had chuckled at that remembering what Svend said earlier in the day. Adora stood placing her notebook in the pouch on her belt, rubbing her eyes she took a deep breath. 

Once out of the war room, Adora had no appetite after the stress of preparing for this mission. So, she headed straight to her chambers. The halls were dark and cool, the sun had set an hour ago. It was somewhat peaceful. The castle had large pillars everywhere, pastel colours swirled in the marble, the grand arches everywhere. Everything was open, a light breeze came through with all the smells of the gardens. It was refreshing. Her mind wandered all over the place, Kyle, Prime, Ro, Lonnie, and Catra. God did Catra plague her mind. Once they get to Fight Castle, she would need to make a visit. She needed to know exactly what happened in Weaver's study. She needed to know. Adora looks up and she is at her door, confused how she got there so fast, but just shook it off as she was tired. She steps inside and heads over to three ropes by the fireplace. Every room had two, except for Glimmer, Bow and herself. One for her personal attendant, the second for the guards, the third was connected to Glimmer and Bows Chambers. Living in such close quarters for so long they felt weird being in this castle. It wasn’t the fact it was big; it was small compared to other kingdoms, the illusion is in the fact it was just very high and open. And because of that they felt far apart, so Glimmer had them install a third rope that was connected to two small bells in their rooms, to notify each other. Adora took hold of the rope for her personal attendant and pulled it twice, if he didn’t hear it someone would and send him to her. She pulls out her notebook and unbinds it, ripping out the page with everything they will be needing for their travels and placing it on her desk. She binds her notebook again and places it back in her pouch and then unbuckles her belt, tossing it on the chair next to the fire. As she tiredly starts to remove her leather greaves and bracers, she hears a knock on her door.

“Enter.” she says, walking to her desk and picking up the list. A young man walks in, not looking her in the eye.

“Sir Greyskull,” he bows. “You called for me?”

“Take this, I will need everything ready before morning. It’s urgent.” She hands him the paper, then shifts from one foot to the other. “Please. Also, could you make sure to bring up my leather armor in the morning? I left it with Tar, I had her make adjustments to it last I was here.” the young man nods and looks up.

“Will you need anything else, Sir?” He looks back down at the ground.

“No, that will be all.” she nods his way, hands clasped behind her back. He just nods and turns to leave.

She continues to undress. She moves to sitting at the edge of her bed, toeing her boots off then unclasping her cloak, then tunic and so on until she is in just her cotton shirt and shorts. She hangs up her clothes before removing her elastic out of her hair. Pulling her covers over her bed and slowly laying in bed. She grunted, not used to the softness of Brightmoons beds. Living on the run, then in a lost child house then being taken by the Horde. Adora had not the pleasures of softness and comfort. But soon enough her tired limbs started to relax. And so, she drifted off to sleep.

*** 

“Do you think she is alive,” Bow's voice was by the door.

“Yes, she is alive, Bow. By the goddess you are a worrier.” Adora could hear Glimmer’s eye roll. Then a poke to her face. “Adora? Adora, it’s not like you to sleep in like this.” then there was a violent shake, “ADORA! WAKE UP!”

And she did wake up, taking in a big gulp of air sitting up fast heart racing. Looking over at Glimmer with a frown.

“How late?” She says groggily, looking around. Her leather armor was hung up on her armor stand. Rubbing her eyes, she groans.

“Two hours past sunrise. Are you okay?” Bow says with a gleam of worry in his eyes.

“I’m fine, just haven’t slept well in a while.” She starts to get up then abruptly stops. “Uh… Bow could you give me a few minutes to get dressed?” 

Blushing Bow nods then closes the door behind him. Once she hears the latch she gets out of bed, and heads over to her clothes. “Why did no one wake me?” she says while hopping around trying to put her pants on.

“Because I told everyone to let you naturally wake, also I’m not complaining. Because… I was running late, but now it’s just you.” She smiles sweetly. “I mean I went and talked to my father and debriefed my mother. And here you are with half a boot on.” she snickers.

“Shut up.” for some damned reason she was having a hard time with her boot. 

“Here.” Glimmer goes over to Adora, and shoves her on the bed, who lets out a loud oof. “Let me help, you Greyskulls can’t function without food first in the morning.” She helps her with her boots then pulls her up. “Now eat first before we get you in your armor.” she nods to a plate and glass on the table by the chair. “When I told Svend who it was for, he cursed up a storm. So, I’d be cautious.” Glimmer says with a grimace.

Adora knows Svend would never do anything to her food, so she grabs the plate and practically inhales the food. She turns to Glimmer, “Bow ca co baak in naw.” mouth so full her cheeks are bulging. 

“Bow it’s clear!” Glimmer yells at the top of her lung, Adora cringes from the sound. She just woke up for fucks sakes.

Bow walks in smiling, “So Glimmer and I went to the library yesterday to talk to our fathers. I informed them about what was happening, they said they were working on an idea, but wouldn’t tell us. Micha and my fathers only told us they were looking for a spell or something. But then kept glancing at each other. It was so weird.” he frowned.

“And then afterwards my dad gave me his staff, the one filled with old magic. But once he handed it to me it disappeared, then fucking told me it would reappear when I needed it. What kind of hog shit was that?! The audacity I swear.” Glimmer grumbles at the end.

Adora had a piece of bread in her mouth while she was clasping her tunic, looking between them and shrugs. Slowly and with much difficulty she puts the whole piece of bread in her mouth and chews a few times before she washes it down with water. Then grabs her belt and fastens it. Walking to her armor, she starts placing the pieces on. 

“I mean whatever will help the cause, I guess is good. And Glimmer that means you can teleport. That will be helpful if we get into a sticky situation.” Adora pops a couple grapes into her mouth then fastens her greaves and bracers on. Once they are properly on and not too constricting, she walks over to her armor to see the additions made. She taps on the breastplate, hearing the hard core of a thin sheet of metal placed in between the hard leather. What she didn’t expect was the designs and colour, thorned vines in the shape of a sword right down the middle, painted gold. The leather itself was so dark red it was almost black. She ran her fingers along the thorned sword. She took it off the stand, flipped it over to the other customization she asked for. A half sheath with the sides that would go all the way up to the hilt. It also had thorned vines on it, like it was wrapping up the sheath, the chape was gold, the leather the same red as the breastplate. She was awed by the leatherwork. She pulled it over her head and started to fasten the buckles on the sides making sure they were secure and did the same to the shoulders.

“Oh well look at this… You got an upgrade” A low whistle came from Glimmer. “Going on a mission in style!” she shimmies. 

“Shut up.” Adora grabs for her elastic and puts her hair up. “Alright, are we ready?”

***

“I sent people to Plumeria with your horses, they left at night. I made sure they were wearing messenger cloaks so no suspicion would fall on them. All the supplies are in the wagon.” the Queen tells the group. She turns to Glimmer and gives her a tight hug and a kiss on the head.

“Mooooom!” Glimmer tries to wiggle out of her grasp. “Love you too, please let go.”

Micha starts sniffling, “My baby girl…” He looks like he is holding back tears. And goes in for a group hug, which only makes Glimmer squirm more and try to escape. 

“Awh!” Bow looks like he is about to burst.

“Come on in and join.” Micha says to Bow. And Bo does not hesitate, he wraps his arms around them all.

Adora just shakes her head, standing next to Adam and Mara who both glance at each other. Perfuma just stands to the side giggling. 

“Ahem… Not to disturb this lovely moment.” Adam adjusts his sword on his hip. “But we need to really get going.”

The family breaks the hug up and smiles down at the group. “May the light of the Guide light your path.” Angella and Micha say at the same time.

They all bow to the Queen and King, then head over to the wagon to start their journey to Plumeria.

***

They were all lying flat in the back of the wagon as to not be seen, there was a sheen cover over the back of it so that no one could see in but they could see the sky above. 

“Goddess damn all that is dark, Adam why didn’t you go before we left?!” Mara whispers harshly.

“Because I didn’t need to go then!” Adam whispers back. 

“So how are you planning on relieving yourself?”

“He could just piss himself.”

“Ew! No, he is right next to me. Adora, I will stab your brother.”

“Maybe we should all keep quiet, just until we get past the thick of the woods.”

“I agree with Bow.”

“Of course, you do, are you going to make him a flower crown too”

“I can if that’s what he wants. But it sounds like you want me to make you one instead, Glimmer.”

“Hard no.”

“Is Adora sleeping?”

“I don’t know, Mara check.”

“Yup, out cold. Never thought I’d see one person drool so much. Pretty impressive.”

“I really have to go guys…”

“There is a hole here on the side panel… you could… you know…”

“How big is the hole?”

“Hahahaha!”

“Oh, you were serious… I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“You didn’t need to be a bitch about it, Glimmer.”

“Wow, rude.”

“You started it!”

“Just roll over her and piss already, Adora has the right idea, I’d like to nap too. Without the bickering of children.”

“Fine…”

Adam starts to roll over Glimmer, who kept telling him in such vivid language how she would kill him. He rolled to his side, pulling the straps loose on his pants.

“Oh, blessed be the light…” Adam sighs as he relives himself. It takes him a solid minute and a half before he is adjusting himself. 

“You really did have to, didn't you cousin?”

“That could have been a world record.”

“Ever heard the term piss like a racehorse?”

“No, what does it mean”

“Whatever the fuck you just did.”

“Haha. let me back to my spot.”

“Over my dead body, I swear on everything that is pure. I will cut your hands off if you touch me with them, fucking nasty.”

“How else was I supposed to relieve myself?”

“Guys, please shut up… I just want to rest, who knows when we will have time like this to rest…” Adora mumbles half awake.

“Adora is right.” Mara says.

And with that everyone stopped talking and they all tried to sleep and if sleep didn’t come to them, they tried to rest their eyes and relax. Adora slowly fell back to sleep to the rocking of the wagon and the sounds of the woods around them. This is what was more known to her, the sturdy wooden boards of the wagon and the sounds of the wilderness. When she drifted to sleep this time, it was dreamless and peaceful. She needed it, because what lies ahead of them is anything but.

***

Adam lifted the cover a little every so often to see if they were being followed, and Mara did the same on the other side. 

“It’s been clear for a while on this side, do you think we can be out in the open now?” Adam looks over his shoulder at Mara.

“It’s been clear on this side too. Hey, Perfuma?” Mara cranes her neck towards the general direction of Perfuma.

“Yes?” 

“How much farther is Plumeria?” Mara starts to feel her neck strain, so she lays her head back down, watching the drool dripping from Adora’s slightly open mouth, she is snoring. “One pisses like a horse, the other drools like a dog. I’m related to animals…” She murmurs under her breath.

Perfuma sits up, lifting the cover. “We should be there in about an hour or less.” 

“Thank god, do we all agree on taking the cover off to get more comfortable?” Adam asks. They all say yes.

“Are we going to wake Adora and ask her?” Bow asks.

“Nah, let the little pup sleep.” Mara chuckles to herself.

They undo the cover, and they all sit up, with them sitting up they are able to stretch. Adam instantly goes for a bag, more specifically the bag with food. Right when his hand was about to sneak into it, a hand reaches out quickly and grabs onto his wrist, he jumps at the quick hand, his eyes following it to its owner. Adora is on her side, arm out and a vice grip on his hand. She’s wiping at her mouth with her other hand, looking at all the drool on it making a disgusted face. Then turns to glare at her brother.

“We have only been on the road for half a day.” Her voice is hoarse from sleeping for so long. “Now knock it off. You are going to have to learn restraint on this mission.” she releases his wrist, shoving it away from the bag. “Are we almost there?”

“Forty minutes or so. Perfuma, is it true Plumeria has the best brothels in the southwest?” Adam says not missing a beat. Mara kicks him from her spot across from Adora, Adora avoiding the kick almost like she knew it was coming. “Oof! Come on, it’s a serious question!” He says rubbing his side. 

“Oh, why yes. My people are free of the social norms of other kingdoms. We believe in the freedom of more than one lover. Though they aren’t called brothels in Plumeria, we call them sensual houses or pleasure troves, they are respected workers. Unlike some parts of Etheria, they are treated with the same respect as any other profession. The women and men and everyone in between are treated with respect, and consent is a big rule to it as well. They ban all alcohol in them but allow a mixture of herbs if you fancy a real good experience.” Perfuma giggles.

“Well, it sounds like I have found my new home. Girls, it was nice living near you for these wonderful years. But I think it is time for me to move to better and bigger things.” Adam said, wiggling his eyebrows.

“How I am related to you is beyond me.” Adora mutters.

“Oh! You would do so well there, Adam!” Perfuma says, clapping her hands.

“You hear that? You wish you could.” smug smile on his face as he looks at Adora. She just rolls her eyes.

“Oh, Adora would be top price for sure.” A blush dusts across her cheeks.

“What? No way she would make more than me!” Adam is almost shouting. Adora shoves him shushing. “There is no way.” 

Adora stretches, cracking her back then sits up to look around, she leans back on her hands. “It’s quiet, but the good kind. At least we know we aren’t being followed. There is a game out in the woods.” Because she is in a wagon, she doesn’t have a good connection to the ground, so even if she wanted to use the sight she couldn’t. So, she keeps an eye out, she glances at Mara who looks like she tuned out of the conversation to keep a lookout as well. 

***

The woods around them start to thin out, and the sound and buzz of people can be heard. Perfuma smiles and looks forward and says in the softest voice. “Welcome to Plumeria.”

Bow and Glimmer stand up, holding onto the back of the driver's bench. Eyes wide with awe. Slowly the road smooths out and there are sounds of people laughing and talking to each other, there are flowers everywhere, plants of every size and trees Adora has never seen before. Soon they end up on a main street, shops pop up and are clustered all around, houses are made of mud and straw, with plants growing all around them. Mara looks over at Adora and Adam, her hand on her dagger, and her other checking to secure her knife that is in her boot, Adam does the same placing his hand on his sword that's on his hip, Adora pulls a ring out from her bracer, and pulls on it to slip it on her middle finger, once she does it on the other bracer she presses on a hidden spot on it feeling for a click, then makes a fist then pulls her fist down until she feels another click and a blade pops out. She does it on both of them, pressing the same spot the blades retract back into the bracers. 

“Oh my! Look at that dress!” Glimmer is gushing over a stand they pass with flowy dresses made of silk. 

“Guys, we need to come this way on our way back.” Bow says eyes full of stars. 

“I second that.” Adam is basically drooling at a food stand that has a man cutting at a stack of meat that is roasting on a metal stick. 

“Once we get to the Inn we can settle, and ready the horses. We can go to a couple of shops and maybe a food stand after.” Mara says. “But as of right now, stay on high alert.” they all agree. 

The wagon stops and they all jump off and grab their things. Adora pulls her bag over her shoulder and holds her winter cloak and bedroll on her side. Standing in front of her was something she had never seen.

“Is that a giant tree, hollowed out, with an inn in it?” Glimmer says awed.

“Yes,” Perfuma walks up to the entrance. “I’ll talk to Dahlia, so she can have someone bring the horses out.” She skips away into the ginormous tree inn thing, like actual skipping. Adora puts on her best ‘what-the-actual-fuck face on.

“Did she just skip?” Mara asks.

“Yeah, I think so. I really like her; she is a hoot.” Adam grins at them walking inside after her.

The rest of them stand outside waiting for the horses. After a few minutes Perfuma emerges from the inn with Adam, and a girl carrying Adam’s bed roll. Adora and Mara glance at each other. Glimmer drops her stuff and runs to Adora.

“Please tell me you see this shit, oh my- and she is cute!” Glimmer is tugging on Adora’s arm, she just sighs. 

“The horses should be out soon, Adam here asked Dahlia to show us around a little.” She says with a smile.

“But isn’t this your Kingdom?” Bow asked, confused.

“That’s a good observation Bow, but I have to take care of somethings while you guys are in town, don’t worry I’ll find you later. Then we can all come back and head out.” 

“Sounds good to me!” Bow says with a smile. Glimmer, Adora and Mara share a look. 

Once the horses arrive, they grab their things and store them onto their saddles. Adora pets Swifty pressing her forehead to his.

“I missed you,” he sighs in return, she smiles at him pulling a sugar cube out of her saddle bag, and hands it to him. He takes it happily and pretends to kiss her face, she pushes his face from hers laughing. “Alright, enough. I’ll be right back, an hour and a half tops.” he nods his head, giving him a kiss on the cheek as she walks away to meet the others.

“How did they get him here?” Bow looked a little hurt.

“They lead him. You really think anyone can ride him?” she laughs.

“True,” Bow claps his hands. “So where to go first?!”

“Food.” Adam and Mara say at the same time. Adora just sighs, shaking her head.

They walk down the smooth dirt road, the smell of spices and incense drifting in the air. And bright colours everywhere. Some of the houses had bright beautiful murals all over them. Once they got to the market, the smell in the air made Adroa salivate, she couldn’t help herself, the food smelt so good. Dahlia and Adam were ahead of everyone, they were talking and smiling at each other. Sometimes Adam would say something, and she would swat at his arm and he would laugh. It was refreshing. Adora still kept her eyes looking everywhere, even though the smell of food was making it hard for her to concentrate. They ended up at the roasted meat place. The man was shearing the roasted me off and placing it on a flat bread, placing vegetables on it. And some sauces. Oh, was Adora ready for that. He rolled it up and wrapped it in thin paper. Once everyone had their food, Dahlia took us to a fountain in the middle of the square, it was so different from any fountain that she had ever seen. It was made out of a plant; it was thick and definitely vegetation. They sat at the edge and started eating. 

“Would you like to see an amazing performance?!” a man in flowy silk pants and a loose shirt said walking up to Bow and Glimmer.

“Yes! I would love to!” Bow about jumped up.

“One coin and you will have it.” The man took his hat off and handed it out to Bow. Without hesitation Bow went into his pouch and pulled a coin out and put it in the hat.

“Ladies and gentlemen! I give to you the dancers of Plumeria!” Behind the man two men and three women popped out of nowhere, the men had instruments, and the women had sheen flowy pants on with a wrap on their chest. They were moving with the music, their hips rolling so smooth and on beat to the drums and flute that were playing. Adora started to feel a blush creep up on her face, she quickly looked down at her food and just focused on eating it. 

“Oh, by the light, Hope forgive me.” Adora heard Mara say under her breath. Adora swatted at her shoulder laughing. “Oh shit, did I say that out loud?” Adora nodded, trying her hardest not to choke on her food. The dancers went on a little longer then stopped, bowed and walked away. 

“That was so elegant!” Adora swears Glimmer has hearts in her eyes.

They finish their food and head down the string of shops. Glimmer and Bow head to the shop that had the flowy silk dresses, Adam and Dahlia go to a trinket shop. That left Adora with Mara. 

“I think I saw a weapons shop down a little farther?” Mara suggests. 

“Thank the stars, if you suggested anything else I would have left.” Adora says relieved. 

“Come on then” Mara says, patting Adora on the shoulder.

They get to the Weapons shop and they are like kids in a candy store. They had all kinds of blades in almost every shape and size. She could get lost in it for hours. Mara was looking at two short swords. They had black leather on the grip, the pommel had a blue gem in them surrounded by gold, the blades were what were interesting, the steel looked icy blue. They were beautiful. 

“I need these…” Mara says under her breath, looking up at Adora she smiles. “I am getting them.” She walks up to the clerk. “How much for these?” 

“twenty silver each.” The clerk says.

“How about…” She unsheathes her own two short swords from her back, and lays them on the table. “These two and twenty silver for those two?”

He picks up her short swords, examining them both before looking at her. “I can do these two and twenty five silver.” he smiles. “And I only say that because they are an older type, but I can see you know how to take care of them, which shows you have respect for these fine things.”

Mara thinks on it for a little. She makes up her mind, “Sounds good to me!” she pulls out her pouch and hands over twenty five silver, he hands her her new short swords. She twirls them around in her hands.

“Oh, by the gods, they are weighted perfectly.” She quickly sheathes them onto her back. “Are you getting anything. Adora shakes her head. “Alright let us find the others.

They both walk down the road vigilant, and ready. But also taking in this amazing place. Adora spots pink and purple hair. “Mara.” Adora nods in the direction of Glimmer. They start walking towards where Glimmer is. Adora sneaks up on Glimmer and pokes her sides, she jumps, and it almost looks like sparkles shot out around her. Adora snickers as Glimmer shoves her.

“Have you seen Adam anywhere?” Mara asks 

“I saw them go to that tea shop right there.” Bow says picking out candies. 

“Oh gods… we better get him before he drinks any of the teas.” Perfuma pops out of thin air and scares everyone, Bow jumps into Glimmer's arms as they both scream, while Mara and Adora have their swords half sheathed. 

“Perfuma, in the words of Glimmer. What. The. Fuck.” Bow says in the nicest way possible.

“Sorry, I’ve been told I'm a pretty silent walker. But we really should go get him before he drinks the tea. Dahlia doesn’t know what we are doing, and probably thinks we are staying the night here. So she probably didn’t think this was a problem.” She starts toward the tea shop.

They follow after her not knowing what the hell she is saying.

“What do you mean, Perfuma?” Mara asks.

“Well, the tea kind of relaxes you. In an intense way.” she says nervously. 

“I like how intense?” Adora barely gets her question out when she hears him. 

“Wow, this stuff is nice. I feel like my tongue doesn’t have bones.” Adam is poking his tongue. “A boneless tongue. How funny” she laughs at himself.

“Oh goddess…” Glimmer’s jaw drops. “Is this really happening. Guys the material we will have on him forever.”

“Mara! Oh, gods it’s my sister too! And her feisty friend and Bow man!” he covers his mouth and gasps, walking over to Perfuma. “Flower lady…” he hugs her. “Thank you” Perfuma is genuinely confused.

“Okay, it’s time to head out.” Mara grabs him by the arm to steer him towards the inn. 

“Mara, why do fish have fins? Why can't they have tiny arms, with tiny hands? Never mind the visual of that is slightly creepy.” she shakes his head. 

Adam goes on to ask off the wall questions, the whole way to the inn. And not once did anyone answer him. Dahlia apologized profusely because she didn’t know and he swore it was okay, and he could handle it. Once they get to the inn Adora finally gets to see the inside. It was huge, the tree itself isn't hollow, it looks like it from the outside, but it is just shaped like a cave. There are few lanterns so it is dim inside, it smells earthy as all hell. But not in a bad way, it’s not a perfect circle, it is kind of wavy around the walls. There were stairs next to the bar that led up to three flights of them. That is where the rooms are. They walk up to the bar, Perfuma is saying something to the bartender. They nod and pull something out from under the counter and give her a small vile. 

“Here Adam, drink this and you’ll feel better.”

“Better? I feel great, and if this makes it better, gimmie gimmie gimmie.” he makes grabby hand motion at her, she giggles and hands it to him and he pops the top off and downs it in one gulp. He shakes his head. “Is nasty, Fuma, why didn’t you say it’s nasty?”

“I am sorry Adam; I will tell you next time.” she tries to hold her smile.

“Thank you.” she smiles at her.

“This is so great, I can’t even handle this.” Glimmer is biting on her fist to stop herself from laughing.

“It won’t take effect right away, but in twenty minutes he should be fine.” Perfuma says.

“Well, I’m sure he will be fine. We just have to keep an eye on him.” Mara says, grabbing his arm and walking out of the inn. 

They all follow Mara out. Adora, Bow and Mara have a hard time getting Adam on his horse because he swears it’s a toy horse and they are pranking him. But they eventually get him on the horse. They all check they have everything and get on their horses.

“We have four hours until sundown, so we are going to need to camp later tonight. But we should go as long as we can.” Adora says, patting Swifty on the neck.

Holding onto her brother's reins to lead his horse next to her and Swifty, she looks at everyone. This is going to be the hard part. They are going to have to go through thick forest to get to the Crimson waste. Then it is a matter of surviving that. They all ride in a single file line following Perfuma down this small path that barely fit two horses' side by side. This is the part Adora was worried about. She will feel better when her brother is done floating with the clouds.

“Adora?” Adam is talking quietly.

“Hm?” 

“Does it ever freak you out that trees breathe?”

“Never really thought of that, till now.” She sighs, he is so lucky she loves him.

Chapter Text

The thick forest that surrounds them wasn’t as cold and eerie, when they were going through the central part of the Whispering woods the other day, it felt cold. Almost like it was trying to tell them to leave. Adora did a head count, for maybe the thirtieth time. Perfuma was in the front, that was one. Herself and Adam next, two and three. Glimmer was right behind them with Bow, four and five. Mara was at the rear, six. She made eye contact with Mara who nodded at her, as to confirm everything was fine.

She looked up to see if she could see the stars. The forest was so thick she couldn’t see a spec of sky, the leaves so lush and full. It was as though they were going through an archway shaped tunnel through thick forest. But light still sifted through somehow, like the moonlight was spilling through the branches like waterfalls of milk, it was a sight to see. Magical. The sounds of little creatures scurrying across the forest floor, and the chirping and buzzing of insects were kind of calming. 

“Ahem…” Adam cleared his throat and steered his horse closer to Adora, in a low voice “I am sorry, for earlier. I really am.” he grimaced, adjusting in his saddle. “I- I just-”

“Was trying to impress a woman?” Adora raised an eyebrow glancing in his general direction.

“Uhm, you could say that. But it wouldn’t be true.” He straightened up, “I don’t need to try.” he puffed up his chest.

“Oh, my modest brother.” Adora rolled her eyes, “I forgive you, but try thinking with your head on your shoulders from now on.” Adora did not once offer him the courtesy of lowering her voice the whole conversation.

 Behind them Glimmer was giggling, they both looked over their shoulder expecting her to add her two coins. But she wasn’t paying attention to them at all. She had the tips of her fingers to her smiling mouth, looking down with a bright blush on her cheeks. Bow was looking at her with the sweetest smile, with a blush dusting his own cheeks. Adora and Adam glanced at each other clearly understanding that they both were not meant to see that and faced forward again. 

They were on the path for a few hours, agreeing to stop and set up camp they pulled on the side of the path, if you could call it that. The path was so narrow. They hitch their horses, Adam and Bow go looking for firewood. Adora and Mara tended to the horses, removing the saddles, watering and feeding them. They placed the saddles in a circle around where Glimmer was clearing the dirt for the fire. The last thing they needed was to set the forest on fire. Perfuma was helping set up the small camp. 

The boys came back with arms full of twigs and larger branches. Adam was grinning, while Bow was flushed. He hurried to set up the fire, when Glimmer went to help him he jolted when their hands touched. He was acting strange. Adam went to his saddle and pulled his bedroll out and rolled it out next to it. He sat down still grinning, his elbows rested on the saddle one leg out the other bent.

“Do I even want to know?” Adora sighed.

“Most definitely not.” He chuckled, “Hey Perfuma, do you need help with the food?”

“Oh, that would be a great help!” she smiled.

“You heard the lady, get to it Adora.” He shoved her leg, making her stumble.

“Oh, you little slug.” Adora huffed, but the good helper she is headed to Perfuma. “What do you need me to do?”

“Can you cut the vegetables?” her voice was soft, “Just chop them into bite sized pieces.”

Adora pulled her knife and began to cut the vegetables. She can say this for sure, the Greyskulls can eat, but cooking is a whole different story. She almost sliced her finger off cutting the carrots. She was a Knight, a deadly warrior, trained at the age of ten to wield a weapon. In a fight she was almost unstoppable. But this carrot will be the death of her. She did one carrot and then was instructed to go rest. Glimmer took over mumbling something about ‘useless sword lesbian’ and cut all the vegetables in no time. 

Adora cleaned off her knife and placed it back in its sheath. She headed to her saddle and rolled out her bed roll just like Adam, unbuckling her hard leather chest plate she dropped it next to her saddle. She kept her bracers and greaves on, just in case. It would be hard to sleep with her chest plate on, because the sheath for the sword was attached to it, it would make sleeping very uncomfortable. Adam was already getting comfortable, his sword leaning on his saddle sheathed. Mara was in the same position and Adora, she took her chest plate off as well. Her two new short swords gleaming in the little streams of moonlight. She was in her sleeveless dark purple leather tunic, she sat in front of the now lit fire legs criss crossed. 

Glimmer and Perfuma finished with prepping the food, they set it on the fire, and they all just sat around it, telling stories of past times with each other, or childhood stories. Adam tells them how as impossible as it is Adora’s forehead was a lot larger as a child. She kicked him in the leg. Glimmer on how her and her mother would sneak into the kitchens when she was younger and make random foods. Bow explains how he has thirteen brothers, and how his fathers wanted them all to be librarians. By then the food was ready, of course the Greyskulls inhale their food, the others eat at a normal human pace. 

“I’ll take the first watch,” Adora stands.

“I’ll take second,” Bow says.

They all lay on their bedrolls and one by one they all slowly drift off to sleep. Adora walks further into the woods, standing back rigid hands clasped behind her back, she walks in a circle around the camp only moving after a few minutes of being in one spot. She makes little to no noise, her training in the Horde coming in handy. She mostly just takes in the sight of everything, getting lost in the silence of the night. The little creatures that were scurrying on the forest floor aren’t around anymore, probably from them setting up camp. All she hears are the insects and Adam’s snores. 

Then out of nowhere. She sees a flash of eyes. She blinks and they are gone. She strains her eyes as though that would add to her sight. She just brushes it off as her head playing tricks on her. She rubs her eyes, sighing. She continues on her watch, staying vigilant and on guard. 

After four hours she wakes up Bow, he groans but doesn’t complain as he gets up grabbing his bow and quiver full of arrows. He pats Adora on the shoulder as he walks by her to take watch.

Another four hours go by and they all slow to rise, Glimmer of course still asleep. Mara tries to help Perfuma with breakfast, but Bow comes in to save her. Once breakfast is ready Bow pats Glimmer on the shoulder trying to wake her up. She just grumbles under her breath ‘just five more minutes’ and covers her face with her cloak. 

Once Glimmer is finally up and eating, everyone is clearing up camp and saddling the horses again. Adam so graciously before they headed out relieved himself, putting out the fire while doing it. 

“Goddess you are foul.” Glimmer glared.

“Yet the women still love me.” He hoisted himself up onto his horse. “And the men don’t know if they want to be me or with me.” he winks at her. 

“Adora…” She growls.

“We are twins, but alas I have no control of that fool.” Adora smiles.

They follow Perfuma down the path the same order they did yesterday. They rode until dark and camped again, they took turns on watch while the rest slept. They did this for three days. Glimmer and Adam complained ever so often that they were bored as they were riding down the path, sharing stories around the fire, laughing and eating. It was almost like just a holiday trip with friends, she almost forgot there was an attack probably being planned on the people she cared about.

***

On their final day they reached the edge of the forest, it just cut off and was sand. Perfuma looked nervous. 

“You okay Perfuma?” Mara pulled her horse up next to her.

“I’ve never been farther than here,” She looks over at Mara. “I usually turn around and head back, father never really let me go further than the border, he said past this mark it's basically no man's land. And it’s you and yourself, everyone and everything else is a threat. So, I might be nervous.”

Bow pulls up next to her, “You have us, we won’t let anything happen to you.” He smiles at her. “We are in this togeth-” he was cut off by Glimmer pushing her horse between Perfuma and Bows, her horse nudging through.

“Yeah, yeah. Holding hands and whatever the fuck lets go.” starts to trot forward. 

“Do you know where you are going, Glimmer?” Adam says loudly.

“At this point straight forward, I assumed…” She didn’t stop her horse.

“Glimmer, Adam and I are the only ones that know the way.” Mara yells.

“Okay, well let’s go then!” she screams back.

Adora just sighs, “Come on let’s go.” 

Mara canters up to Glimmer, it looked like they were talking, well Mara was. Glimmer was full on snarling at Mara, who didn’t seem offended, just chuckling. Mara said something to Glimmer and it calmed her down some. Whatever she said worked, because when they all caught up to them Glimmer acted like she didn’t just have a mini meltdown. 

They continued riding through the edge of the Crimson waste. It was a wide Desert with canyons and sand dunes everywhere. Beautiful rock formations, one looked like two dancing figures. But made of rock, underneath it where the legs would be, there was a small oasis. They took the horses there to water them and gather water not sure when they would see water again.

And off into the scorching beautiful desert that is the Crimson waste they went, pulling their cloaks up to shade them from the sun. They rode forward, following the sun east. 

***

Catra ran down the street, feet hitting the ground hard, her breathing heavy. She should have known better, Adora can’t act for shit. The merchant knew something was up the moment she opened her stupid cute mouth. No. Stop. Not a cute mouth. She took a sharp left, clutching the bag in her hand for dear life, she wasn’t going to lose this after all the planning they did to get it. The sweat from her forehead was dripping down into her eyes, burning them. But she didn’t want to risk it, she needed to find a spot quickly. 

“Get back here you little shit!” The merchant yelled, he was a short chubby man. If she thought she was sweating, he was drenched and breathing so hard.

“Fuck you!” she yelled back at him.

There was a stone wall that was half crumbled, she saw it and vaulted over it. She was almost there. Adora better be there! She reached the deadend and the rope ladder was nowhere to be found. 

“That fucking moron!” Catra stomped.

“Pssst!” she heard something from the tree that loomed over the wall to her right, and right there was Adora in all her lanky glory. Her left hand and leg wrapped around the branch as she stretched her hand out for Catra to grab. Catra smiled then put the bag on her shoulder and ran at the wall, running up it two steps before her hand came in contact with Adora’s forearm. Adora hoisted her up like she weighed like a feather. Which did not make twelve year old Catra blush. Once on the branch the merchant ran up to the deadend cursing looking around. He noticed the shade and looked up pointing.

“You fucking thief!” He was so red in the face.

Catra blew raspberries at him and climbed down the tree, Adora right behind her. Once on the ground they both bolted. Jumping over fences and taking sharp turns. Until they were at the gates of the castle. Adora abruptly stopped and fixed her hair, tightening the ponytail and brushing off the dust from her clothes. They both walked in through the servant entry farther to the right, it led straight to the kitchens. 

“I thought you were a goner for sure!” Catra says cackling. “Your acting was so horrible! ‘I- I- have to use the bathroom.’ Who even says that to a merchant?” she let out one of her high pitched laughs.

“I couldn’t think of anything!” Adora shoves her blushing. 

“We had a script! You even memorized it!” Catra was now wiping tears from her eyes.

“Shut up. I got you out of there didn’t I?” she smiled.

“Only barley, I thought your dummy self got lost.” Adora blushes harder when she says that.

“I. Uh, may have…” Adora avoids Catra’s stare. 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Her face is shocked.

“Catra! Weaver might hear you swear!” Adora whispers harshly at Catra. “I don’t want you getting in trouble.”

“Yadda yadda. Wanna see what I grabbed?” Catra grins.

They walk through the servant's door and head to the kitchens, once inside they say hello to Rob the cook, he lets them use his kitchen to sneak out as long as they bring him back something from their ‘adventures’. 

“Look what we got today, Rob!” Catra gently puts the bag on the table, opens it and pulls out a peach. 

“Oh, by the light,” he takes it from her. “And they are even ripe! How many do you have?”

“Six, but I want one.” she sets her face into a scowl crossing her arms.

“Fine by me, I’ll make a pie for the Lord and Lady. If I have enough, I’ll see on making you younglings a small tart out of them.” he smiles. “Now get along, I don’t need two troublemakers in here.”

They practically ran out of the kitchen, down the corridor. They went up the servant stairs, still running down the corridors until they got to the part of the castle that looked like ruins. The cobble steps broken and the stone walls crumbling. It led to the far east tower that faced the ocean. The steps to the stairs were rocky and if you didn’t know which ones to step on, they would fall. Catra and Adora knew exactly which ones to step on, they sprinted up the stairs. 

“It’s so embarrassing how slow you are! Especially with those long legs!” Catra giggled, sprinting past Adora.

Catra was by the window once Adora reached the top. She was looking out of the window. 

“Took you long enough,” She turned around to hand Adora the peach. “I’ll give you the first bite only because you need some good thing to happen to you today.”

“Haha, and I wasn’t that far behind you.” Adora was breathing hard. Hands on her knees she put her hand up. “You go ahead I need to breathe” 

Catra shrugged and took a bite, when she bit into it. It was so juicy, sweet and bitter at the same time, the pink flesh oozing juiced when she pulled away from the bite. She groaned, it tasted so fucking good. They didn’t get to eat real food like the Lord and Lady, they were cadets and only got ration bars. This was the first time Adora and Catra would have had real food. They never stole before today, when they would get Rob things it would be beautiful rocks from the water, or mussels and clams from the rocky beach. This though was a first, and after tasting it Catra was going to make sure it wasn’t her last.

“Hey! Don’t eat it all, I want to try it!” Adora straightens up.

“Adora, it's so good.” She hands it over to Adora. 

Adora takes it and takes a bite, then another. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. 

“This is so good…” 

“Hey! Don’t eat it all!” Catra snatches it back. Taking a bite, she tells Adora with a mouth full, juices dripping down her chin. “Bite each until it’s gone.” Adora nods, she steps closer to Catra looking at her mouth and she smiles. She brings her hand up to wipe Catra’s chin.

“You sloppy mess.” Catra does not blush at that, no sir. Not her.

“Shut up.” Catra shoves Adora.

They finish the peach. Adora tried to bite into the pit, almost losing a tooth. She recommended to Catra to never do that. Once they were done they held hands and looked out the window together, watching the wild waves of the sea crash into the rocky shores below. The water was grey and stormy. Like Adora’s eyes. Catra thought. 

“Catra?” Adora leans into her, sneaking her hand into Catra's.

“Yeah?”

“I just wanted you to know, I’ll always be here... I’m sorry for earlier, but I would never leave you behind.” Adora turned to Catra, still holding her hand.

“You promise?...” Catra looked up at her, curling into herself, vulnerable. 

“I promise.” Adora lets go of Catra’s hand so she can engulf her in a hug. “As long as we have each other, nothing bad can happen.” 

***

When Catra woke up, she could feel the headache starting. She went to open her eyes, when she did, her vision was blurry. And not because it was early in the morning, she felt something wet pool in the corner of her eyes before a stream fell. She went to wipe at the wetness. Tears. She was crying. Why? She doesn’t know. She growls, ripping her bedding from on top of her. 

“Stupid fucking…” she mutters to herself. She sits on the edge of her bed, reaching for her empty glass and pouring water into it from the jug next to it. She gulps down the water to wash down the bile threatening to surface. Once she gets her bearings she stands and stretches, walking up to her wardrobe she pulls a sleeveless thick cotton tunic over her head. It had a diamond shaped slit on her chest that showed her bust, and the collar covered her neck. The upper half was black and the lower maroon. She put her tight black cotton pants on, then her leather boots. As she was in the middle of putting her bracers on there was a knock on the door. She took a deep breath. 

“Wild cat! I have some news for you!” Scorpia’s cheerful voice rang through the door.

When Adora left, Catra was a mess. She didn’t speak to anyone, she promised herself she wouldn’t let anyone in again. But then this six-foot three gentle giant came up to her on the training grounds and offered to train with her. No one wanted to because Catra was a force to be reckoned with, not only is she connected strongly to the guide, but she is stronger than she looks. She is agile and fast, with a hard hit. She is lethal. No one but Adora at the time could handle her. Then came Scorpia, for how brute she was she was pretty quick. But she could handle the blows Catra gave her. And after a while she wore Catra down. If you ask Catra they aren’t friends. But she will scratch anyones eyes out if they mess with her. If you ask Scorpia, she would say they are the ‘Best Pal Duo’. 

“Come in.” Catra called at the door. Struggling with one of her bracers she cursed and threw it at the opposite wall.

“Good morning wild cat!” she walks over to the bracer on the ground. “How did you sleep?” Catra just grunts. “Alright then, let's finish getting you ready for the day, and then breakfast!” She walks up to Catra and fastens the bracer to her forearm. “What do ya think?” Catra grunts again. 

“I have to go see Weaver, said she wanted to talk to me about something in the morning.” Scorpia goes to put the other bracer on Catra’s other arm.

“What do you think it is about?” Scorpia glances up at Catra.

“Fuck if I know. Probably sending me on a stupid mission in the middle of nowhere to do nothing. Again.” Catra glares at her bracers. “Like I’m not a fucking Capitan.”

“Well maybe this time it will be different.” Scorpia smiles

“Yeah…” Catra gets up and walks up to her mirror, she no longer was the small girl Adora left here. She runs her fingers through her hair and huffs. “Time to go, don’t follow. I’ll come find you.” Scorpia didn’t have time to respond, Catra grabbed her maroon cloak and left the room. 

***

Catra was right in front of Lady Weaver's study, her hand went to knock. But the door opened by itself. 

“You aren’t cloaking yourself from the guide…” The sickly sweet of Lady Weaver's voice floated like poison out to the hall.

Catra walked in. “I figured that because I was back that I didn’t need-” The door slammed behind her, “to…”

“I need you cloaked at all times, I need you to be not seen or heard.” Lady Weaver was acting weird, weirder than her normal paranoia. 

“Uh, what for…” Catra gave her a confused face.

“Don’t question my insolent child! Do as I say! When will you learn your place!” Catra backed up a step and flinched out of habit. Lady Weaver smirked at that. Fucking bitch. Catra Cloaks herself, she feels the familiar warm blanket that wraps itself around her then it’s gone.

“You asked me to see you this morning.” Catra said. 

“I need you on an assignment, the unseen says there is a group of rebellions headed to the Crimson waste. I need you to go find out more about this. The unseen won’t travel to the Crimson waste, because it’s a lawless land we cannot assure them safety.” Lady Weaver takes a sip of her wine glass. “Once you find out what is happening, I need you to do one more task.” She slowly puts the wine glass back on her desk, she starts playing with the neck of it. “The group has been Identified, well four out of the six of them at least, there are two that we know nothing about. Princess Glimmer of Brightmoon, Bow Apprentice to the master archer, Perfuma of Plumeria, and three Knights of the Realm of Brightmoon and allies.”

“You said you knew four out of the six.” Catra glances up at Lady Weaver.

“Ah, see, this is the task. I need you to capture and bring this one to me alive.” Lady Weaver gets up and starts to walk towards Catra almost like she is floating. “I need one of the knights brought to me alive, and preferably in one piece.” She is less than a foot away from Catra, so close she can smell the stink of Lady Weaver’s wine on her breath.

“I get it, intel then grab the Knight and come back.” Catra is getting irritated, “Now who is this fourth person, so I can gather information to better prepare myself for this task.” Catra looks up into Lady Weaver's cold green eyes.

“Adora.” Lady Weaver smirks.

Catra stills, she doesn’t move a muscle. Her breathing stopped; her eyes faltered for a split second. Setting her jaw, she straightens and places her hands behind her back.

“Is this going to be a problem?” Lady Weaver pulls her hand up to Catra’s cheek. Catra closes her eyes.

“No.” Catra quietly says.

“Look at me child when you talk to me!” Lady Weaver Grabs Catra’s jaw and squeezes hard, nails digging into her cheek. “Answer me.” Catra’s eye start to feel like they are going to water, but she will be damned if this old hag gets the pleasure of seeing that, somehow, she sucks the tears back in.

“No, my Lady. I will not be an issue. You will get your intel, and the Knight Sir Adora of the Realm of Brightmoon and allies.” Catra uses her Horde Captain steel voice. “Will there be anything else? My Lady?” Lady Weaver releases her. 

“That is all,” Catra turns on her heel to leave, she has the door half closed behind her when she hears Lady Weaver say. 

“Do not fail me.”

***

She doesn’t know how she got there; she must have blacked out. She is in the eastern towner, looking out of the window facing the ocean. She feels the bile from this morning stuck at the back of her throat. Her chest hurts, like no matter how much she breathes she can’t get the amount she needs. Her vision is shaking, she looks down at her hands, and realization hits. She’s shaking, her hands are trembling. There is now a pool of water in her hands. Not water. Tears, she’s fucking crying for the second time today, and it isn’t even three hours after sunrise! She can’t stop it this time. She falls to the floor on her knees, not feeling any pain. Nothing like the vice grip hold that is on her chest. Her head feels like she is underwater, like the big waves of a storm are crashing into her head. She knows she is breathing frantically; she’s getting lightheaded. Grabbing handfuls of her hair she bends down, lets out a guttural scream that tears through the back of her throat. She pounding the ground with her fists.  

Fuck Adora. Fuck Weaver. Fuck all of them. Adora left ME! All this time she has had me out there. Looking and tracking her, just for me to get her!

“FUUUUUUUUUUCK!” Catra screams that with all the strength of her core. 

Then it hits her. What the fuck is she doing. Adora doesn’t deserve her agony. She left her. She asked her to stay, and she left Catra. Catra let go of her hair and sat up, hands in her lap, staring at the sky out the window. It was a blue crisp sky. And that is when Catra shut it all off. All her emotions connected to Adora. Almost like an elastic being pulled so hard, it finally snaps. She felt nothing. She got up off the ground and wiped her eyes clean, she took a few deep breaths, once she gathered herself, she headed to her chambers.

She opened her door to her chambers to see Scorpia sitting in the chair by the fire. She probably didn’t leave waiting for Catra to get back. 

“Do you want to go on an assignment with me? I might need your help.” Catra asks.

“Oh, of course wild cat!” She stood so fast and was hugging Catra. 

 “Scorp…”

“You won’t regret this! Is it an undercover one! Ooooh! Intel, right?!”

“Scorp.”

“Oh my, what do I bring!”

“Scorpia!”

“Oh, yes?”

“I can’t-” Catra Wheezes. “Breath!”

“Oh!” Scorpia slowly releases Catra and sets her back down slowly. “Sorry. I got excited.” Catra just glares. 

“Pack for intel and possible prisoner retrieval.” Catra turns to her chest and opens it. “I don’t know how long we will be out there so make sure you bring enough supplies.” She pulls out a belt with small knives sheathed and straps it to her thigh. “We will be following six people, but I have an idea how to lure the subject out.”  

“Yes, Captain!” Scorpia made a serious face saluting. “I’m gonna actually go do that now. And sort other things so you don’t have to worry.” She smiled as she left the room. “See you soon, Wild Cat!”

Catra grabbed her two hatchets, hooked them on her belt, then her dagger on her other thigh. She double checks everything. Grabbing her bag, she starts to pack for her journey.

She is walking down the steps of the Castle, greeted by Scorpia who is standing with two horses with a wide smile. She hands Catra the reins, Catra hops onto the horse and steers to leave not waiting for Scorpia. Scorpia Trots up to her, and once she is next to Catra she hands her something wrapped in a cloth.

“You missed breakfast, and we need you at full strength!” Scorpia shrugs and pulls her horse away. Catra opens up the cloth to find bread, cheese and a peach. She glares at the peach.

“Hey, Scorp!” When Scorpia looks up Catra tosses the peach at her. “I hate peaches.”

Chapter Text

The sweltering heat from the midday sun was going to be the death of her, she swore it. Adora and her twin brother were both hiding under their cloaks while the rest of their party only had to put their hoods up, unaffected by the sun she knows is trying to burn her alive. The cloaks saved them from the cruel rays of the sun, but also trapped the heat in. But she wasn’t going to risk her skin being exposed and burned, it felt like a hot iron on her skin, she already has a sunburn on her cheeks, Adam didn’t look too well himself. They both looked at each other and groaned loudly.  

“Won’t you two stop complaining, it’s not our fault your skin is as pale as snow, and you can’t handle a little heat.” Glimmer is smirking as she trots by them.

“Shut up.” Adam says pulling his cloak over himself more. “It’s only when the sun is the hottest, after that, I can manage.”

“Whatever you say.” Glimmer sing songs.

Mara trots up to the twins, leaning forward on her saddle reins loose in her hands. Not one drop of sweat. Not one drop. They both glare up at her. “Are you both going to make it a couple more hours?”

“Do we have a fucking choice?” huffs Adam.

“I’m sure we will manage” Adora says at the same time as her brother.

“There is a pit stop about two hours out, it should cool down by then.” She straightens up. “And we can get a proper meal and something cool to drink, preferably strong.” she grins at them, with a wink she trots to the front to talk to perfuma.

“I can’t wait for a cool cup of literally anything.” Adam sobs.

“You and I both, brother.” Adora sighs.

They get bullied for a few more minutes, Bow tries to cheer them up by saying once they get a good tan going it shouldn’t hurt that much. Adora honestly feels like she can only burn and turn red at this point. 

The Crimson waste is, well, what it sounds like. After a day into the desert the sand and rocks around them slowly start to turn a light crimson colour. Contrast to the sky a bright blue, it is a beautiful sight. The waste part Adora doesn’t understand, because it is very beautiful here, even with her almost burning alive she can admit to its beauty. Perfuma on the other hand is not so fond of it, she says it’s too dry and the plants here are aggressive and she prefers her flowers and vines over the cacti. 

Adora catches herself, mind wondering. The dream is back, and it's getting more vivid each time. Like she can almost taste Catra’s lips, feel her skin under her fingertips. Adora shakes her head, face flushed, she can blame the heat for her blush. 

They finally made it to the pit stop, it had a giant skull of a beast for the entrance. It was huge, she has never seen a beast that big before. It looked like the building was made of the remains of the beast and a tent-like fixture around it. Mara got off her horse and told them to wait for her; she was going to see if they had room to stable the horses for the night. Adora got off swifty to stretch her legs, definitely not to hide in whatever shade he provided. 

Mara returned with a smile, “Good and bad news,” she stands in front of them all hands on her hips, “Good news, they have room for the horses and even will water, feed and service and tack them for us.” 

“What’s the bad news…” Glimmer peers at her through squinting eyes.

“They only have two rooms, a real bed able to fit two bodies and a cot added. It was either that or sleep with your horses.” Mara grins sheepishly at them shrugging. “It’s not outside, and there is food and water.” 

Adam jumps off his horse. “I don’t care. I want to sit at a table with a cool cup of ale.”

They head to the stables to hand off the horses, Adora pets Swifty and promises him she will see him in the morning. Then they all head into the building-tent-skeleton. Once inside the smell of food and alcohol hits her nose. She hums happily following the group to a table, a woman with an apron comes up to them and asks them what they want to drink, everyone says ale except for Bow. He asked for tea, and that made everyone in the tavern part, stop what they were doing to look in their direction.  

“Do we look like we serve that here?” The woman looked annoyed.

“Haha! My friend here is a jokester! He will have an ale and water.” Adam says to the woman with a wide smile on his face.

The woman grunts and leaves to get them their drinks and food, everyone in the tavern goes back to whatever they were doing before. Everyone here looked like they had seen better days. People with missing fingers, eyes, scarred flesh new and old, they all looked like they lived rough hard lives.

 Once everyone is settled with their bags at their feet, cloaks off and stowed away. They realized they may have made a mistake, once they pulled their cloaks off, it showed everyone in the tavern their weapons.

They didn’t have very flashy weapons, but they were well crafted. Brightmoon’s blacksmith was one of the best in the realm. And Mara just upgraded her swords, between her, Adams long sword with a gold hilt and a deep blue leather grip, Adora’s sword with turquoise on the pommel, Bow wearing a chest plate, greaves and bracers made of a light metal that shimmered with a red heart with a flame around it on his chest, but that was it, the armor cut off at his chest and revealed his abdomen. He says he doesn’t like the feel of fabric on his stomach. He also has a bow that looked like it was made out of pearls with the shimmer on it, not to mention the two princesses dressed in clothes that looked like they haven’t been worn more than a few weeks. Perfuma in a silk dress with pink, blue and green floral designs on it with a dagger covered in jewels on her hip. Glimmer wearing armor that looked like the same material that Bow wore, just not in a cropped style like his chestplate and a crescent moon instead of a heart, and a silk purple short cape.

But it was enough to make everyone look at them, it was a mixture of interest, and pure anger. One of the guys at the bar got from his seat and started their way. He was tall and bulky like an ox; he had a couple missing fingers and a scar that went from the bottom of his left ear and ran down his neck past his shoulders and hid under his shirt. He stopped at their table, the reek of ale seeping out of his pores it took, along with other smells, it took everything out of Adora to not heave up her breakfast.

“What are you lot doing here?” His deep voice spat out. “You don’t look like you belong here. Did you get lost?”

“No, we are fine, sir, thanks you can get back to nursing your cup back over there” Adam points to the bar with a fake smile. “We don’t need any trouble.”

“You sure look like you are trouble, stuck up nobles or some shite.” The man got closer to Adam, “don’t get smart with me, pretty boy.”

“Oh, well look at that dear sister, I told you I was the pretty one.” Adam smirks at Adora, who in turn kicks him under the table. “Now for you sir, me and my friends here just want to drink some, eat some, then go to sleep. If you don’t mind.”

“Pretty boy wants to talk all fancy, fuck you and your fancy words. You don’t belong here, you should leave. Or you can give me your fancy looking sword.” The man touches the pommel of Adam’s sword. Which makes Adam stand up fast pushing the chair back making it screech across the floor a few inches.

“Don’t fucking touch-” Adam was interrupted by Adora and Mara standing up.

“Excuse my brother, it's hot out and we just want to rest,” Adora says with a sweet smile.

“Let me buy you a drink sir.” Mara says standing between him and the twins, eyes level with him. With her cloak off and arms out for everyone to see, she flexed her arms a little as she gestures to the bar. The man knowing, he might have a chance fighting Adam, but not Adora and Mara on top of it grunts nodding his head. They head to the bar and once there Mara starts talking to the man and he looks like he is grunting, then she slides him a pitcher of ale. But she looks him in the eye when she does it and with a sly smirk on her face, she says one word and the man goes pale. He looks like he is apologizing. When she walks away from him with a shit eating grin, he grabs the pitcher and chugs it in three gulps, nods to his crew and they head out. That was enough for the whole tavern to act like nothing happened and they all act like they were minding their business the whole time.

“Sit your ass down.” Glimmer hisses at Adam.

“He started it.” Adam hisses back pulling his chair back.

“I ended it.” Mara says.

“What did you say to him to get him that scared?” Adora asked.

“Ah, nothing. Don’t worry about it. You will find out soon enough.” Mara says grinning, a server comes by with their food and drinks Mara grabs a cup and takes a big gulp then turns to Adora. “Now drink, eat and then we sleep!” she laughs.

They all grab a cup, cheer and take a gulp at the same time. 

“Oh, by the light! This tastes like warm piss!” Adam is spitting it back into his cup.

“Oh, stop the whining! Drink enough and the temperature won’t matter!” Mara laughs heartily. 

“How do people drink this,” Bow looks like he is on the verge of tears, “this is so gross…” he grabs his water taking a large sip. “Aaaah… much better.” he hums happily as he starts to eat his food. The rest don’t mind it much and don’t complain.

Adora doesn’t really drink, she rather stays hydrated with water. Her brother and Mara on the other hand, like their water hard. So, they drink and they eat, not being too loud so as to not cause more attention to themselves. 

Once everyone is done, they head to the rooms. Adora is with Bow and Adam, while Mara will be with Glimmer and Perfuma. Not sure who has the worst room. 

Opening the door to their room Adora puts her bag by the cot and starts to take her chest plate off. She leaves her boots, greaves and bracers on just in case they need to wake up and leave right away. She is unbuckling her chest plate when Adam dramatically gasps.

“Am I not good enough for you my sister, whom I have shared a womb with for nine agonizing months!” He does a dramatic sigh falling back on Bow, who catches him and tries to get him to stand up right. But fails because Adam has gone limp.

“Adam, I’d sleep with the pigs before I share a bed with you again.” She snorts. 

“You are rude, you know that.” and just like that he is back to standing by himself, Bow lets out a sigh of relief before going to take his armor off.

They all take their heavy gear off and settle in the bed, and Adora in the cot.

“How is the bed?” Adora grins.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up” Adam says through gritted teeth.

“Cozy.” Bow says.

She chuckles to herself as sleep slowly pulls her in, this is the first night not sleeping on the ground by a fire. So, the darkness is welcome and the warmth of a thick blanket. She drifts off to sleep. She has the same dream, but this time she notices something different. Catra’s star isn’t just red like it always is, it’s getting darker.

She jolts awake, covered in sweat. She looks over at the bed and sees Adam starfish on the bed, one leg and arm wrapped around Bow, while Bow sleeps on his side, mouth wide open snoring. She chuckles to herself; she can’t wait to let everyone know about this. She looks at the candle on the nightstand that the boys forgot to put out, it is a quarter of the way out. She was only asleep for three hours. She lays down and tries to go back to sleep but can’t. So, she pulls out her notebook and a piece of charcoal and goes over the mission plans.

Eventually the light goes out, and she is laying in darkness. She closes her eyes and thinks about Catra and where she is right now. She feels pathetic thinking about her, she hates Adroa, there is no way she can have what they had before. So Adora thinks about all the things she misses, it’s not the same. But it is soothing enough to her that she blissfully falls back to sleep. This time the dreams don’t come and its darkness then she is up. 

“But… Svend… The roasted chickens…” Adam is mumbling in his sleep.

Adora gets up, rubs her eyes of sleep and moves to put her chest plate on.

“Adora…” Bow is whispering, she stops mid strapping her chest plate on and walks over to Bow's side of the bed.

“Uh… Bow…” She raises an eyebrow. “What’s going on here?”

“He held on and won’t let go.” Bow is trapped under Adam who has him caged into his arms. “He thinks I’m a chicken or something.” Bow sounds desperate.

“Adam! Adam!” Adora shakes him, “Wake up your ugly lump-AH!” Adam grabs onto Adora’s arm and pulls her in so all three of them are piled up onto the bed.

“Adora… I can’t breathe…” Bow wheezes.

There is a knock on the door and then Glimmer walks in, turns right around. When she returns, she has Mara and Perfuma in tow.

“Can you help!” Bow wheezes.

“Adam get off me!” Adora punches his arm, the whole time the three at the door are snickering. 

Mara just shakes her head and walks away to get everything situated for them to leave. Adora hits Adam one more time. He gasps for breath wiping at his mouth, slowly opening his eyes as he looks around. Realizing what he is doing he jolts up making himself fall off the bed.

They all meet once they are ready in the tavern, Mara sitting at the table already with the food, mostly cheeses, bread and nuts. Once done eating they head to the stables ready their horses and head out on their way. Mara said it would be a three-day trek, so to avoid the sun they should move in the early mornings and evenings. The moon is out so visibility won’t be an issue so they may be able to shave half a day if they move through the night. 

***

Adora was in the training room of Fright Castle. She looked around; she couldn’t see anything. The darkness from the corner of the room slowly started to grow and tendrils seeped out of them.

“You fucking promised…” Catra’s small voice echoed around the room.

“I had to go, you know that…” Adora’s voice cracked, “you knew I couldn’t stay.”

Out of the darkness Catra saunters out. Long curly hair, and eyes that could burn through Adora’s soul. She took a few steps, half her body was shadowed by the darkness.

“Why don’t you use the Guide and see what you have done to me.” Catra says so monotone.

Adora hesitates, she closes her eyes and feels that familiar pull. But not just that, she feels something different this time. Like the energy she is using and being sucked from her, pulled away by force. She opens her eyes to see Catra right in front of her, eyes blazing. Her star is not the bright red, but black in the middle, and the red is dark and pulsing like a heartbeat. 

“You did this, you did this when you left me.” Catra’s voice is distorted. “You could have stayed, we could have been something here.”

“No, what they were doing was wrong.” Adora shakes her head. “Catra, your star…” Adora’s voice wavers a little.

“But we were together…” Catra runs one of her long nails down Adora’s cheek. “And now, it’s gone…”

Adora reaches out for Catra, but then the floor beneath her collapses. She is in a room made of crystals. There is a giant crystal pillar in the middle of the room, she approaches it, feeling a pull. She hears a hum, almost like it’s beckoning her to it. She reaches out to touch it.

Adora jerks awake, she looks around. She was at the edge of the camp, her sword in hand, looking around confused. Sheathing her sword and heading back to her bed roll she sits down. She tries to shake off the dream, but she can’t, and she knows she is done sleeping for the moment. She thinks about getting up, but her limbs are so tired. So, she lays down, and counts the stars, waiting for everyone to wake and they can head on their way. 

***

Catra doesn’t mind the heat, the Crimson waste is not her favorite place that’s for sure. She would rather be around trees; she loves climbing them and disappearing and hiding from people. She looks over at Scorpia who is smiling to herself and humming. 

“How much longer until the pit stop?” Catra says, looking away.

“Oh, I believe we should be there soon. I can’t wait to get there! There is like a beast’s skeleton that they turned into a tavern, pretty neat stuff!” Scorpia then rattles on about things about the tavern, but Catra just zones her out.

When they finally reach the tavern they hitch their horses and head inside to get some food and drink. They sit up at the bar, Scorpia throwing nuts in the air and trying to catch them with her mouth. The server comes over and takes their orders and heads in the back. Waiting Catra leans on the counter laying her chin on her hand, when she feels someone stand way to fucking close to her.

“Well, hello there. What is a fine specimen like you doing out here?” A deep rather annoying voice says next to her.

“I am looking for new property to buy out here, saw a rock a few miles back, might shack up there and start a garden.” She deadpans. 

“Oh, and you are a feisty one.” he leans in closer. 

“Okay, yeah no. first off, your pick up lines or small talk are shit. Can’t even figure out what you are trying to do. Bore me to death or annoy the shit out of me.” The server puts her drink in front of her, she takes a big gulp. “And honestly I don’t know how you did it but you have both bored and annoyed me, so do yourself and myself a favor and get the fuck out of my face.” She pops a dried fruit into her mouth.

“What is up with all these stuck up outsiders, all fucking coming and having the nastiest attitudes.” he grumbles starts to walk away.

“Wait,” She turned her head towards him, goddess was that a mistake he was one ugly thing. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. “These other outsiders, what did they look like?” 

“A bunch of pretty assholes, they all looked like they had never seen dirt in their life. Stuck up lot they were.” he grumbles.

“Did any of them have blonde hair and grey eyes?” She asks, popping another dried fruit into her mouth.

“Yeah, the mouthy pretty boy.” he spits out, “If I ever see him agai-”

“Was there a woman? Same description.” She cuts him off.

“Yeah, she stopped me from killing the prick.” He growls.

“Hm, do you know where they were heading?” She takes a sip of her drink.

“The other lady who bought me a drink said something like “If you excuse my cousin, I’ll buy you a drink and won’t tell Huntara.” so I left the prick alone, so if she is on her way to Huntara they are heading to the valley of the lost.” He steps closer to her, “So does this mean I get to talk to you now?” He says smirking.

“Oh, fuck no. You can fuck off now.” She turns back to her food. He grunts and storms off.

“Dang Wild Cat, you sure are good at getting information from people. I wouldn’t have known what to do!” Scorpia praises.

“Sure. We need to hurry up and finish so we can get on our way,” Catra takes another sip of her drink. “We need to catch up to them, and what better place to separate them than in the valley.” Catra grins to herself. 

They finish eating and head towards the valley of the lost. On their way to Adora.

Chapter Text

“I spy with my little eye… Something red.” Adam has been playing this game for the past three hours, and the only ones participating are Bow and Perfuma.

“Your face?” Glimmer snickers.

“No- Shut up!” Adam snaps. “It’s an object, my face is not an object.”

“That’s debatable.” Glimmer is having too much fun terrorizing Adam.

“Is it those flowers over there?” Perfuma says in a soft voice.

“Nope.” Adam grins, “You guys won’t get it.”

“Hm, is it your reins?” Bow asks.

“Nope.” 

“Adora’s face?” Glimmer is laughing at this point.

“Yes.” Adam laughs.

“What?!” Adora is looking for something to throw at her best friend and brother. “You both are the worst.”

“I spy with my little eye, a valley.” Mara says.

“Mara, you aren’t supposed to say what you spy. We are supposed to guess it.” Adam says, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t care, we are almost to the valley of the lost.” Mara frowns. “Keep your eyes open and focused.”

“Can we blink, the heat will dry my eyes out” Adam grins, but Mara just shoots him a glare.

“Why is it called valley of the lost?” Bow looks a little nervous.

“It’s where things that are lost end up, or where you lose yourself.” Adam says in all seriousness, contrast to his playful nature beforehand.

“That sounds… Pleasant…” Bow gulps.

Once at the mouth of the valley Adora really takes in her surroundings, the valley walls were tall, jagged rocks high and steep, the valley floor was relatively flat with rocks piled up on the side of it, and random boulders laid about. The layers of colour on the rocks were breathtaking, the way the reds, oranges and browns layered on top of one another and blended perfectly. They could hear the echo of hooves traveling down the valley, it twisted and turned. 

Mara took the lead and told Adora to take the back and Adam the middle. Adora tried to use the Guide to help scan the area to make sure it was safe. But for some reason she couldn’t use it. She couldn’t feel the Guides power since they crossed over into the desert, the only time she was able to use it was when she woke up from her strange dreams. And like a candle being blown out it was gone. Adora was a little uneased by this, because when she can scan, she can usually scan fifty feet out, but now not being able to do anything made her feel vulnerable. She shook her head and looked around trying to focus on making sure everyone was safe.

They continued down the valley for a couple of hours with no troubles, well except when Glimmer screamed because a lizard climbed up her leg, then Bow screamed when it jumped on his face trying to save Glimmer. 

Mara stopped her horse right before two boulders, she looked back at the twins and nodded at them. They both pulled out their weapons, Mara pulled out one of her swords. Bow catching on pulled out his bow, Glimmer and Perfuma had their hands on their daggers. Two figures walked out from behind the two boulders, they were wearing loose clothing and a scarf that covered their face only showing their eyes. They had a spear in their hand. 

“What is your business here?” One of them said.

“I want a meeting with Huntara.” Mara says firmly.

“I don’t think you are in any position to demand things.” The other says.

“Alright let me rephrase it then, I would like a meeting with Huntara.” She straightens her shoulders.

“I’m afraid that's going to be a no.” The one with the more masculine voice says.

“Do you have anyone that isn't a footman around I can talk to?” Mara starts to get irritated. “Because you both are starting to get on my nerves.”

“No, sorry love. It’s just us.” they snicker amongst themselves.

“Now turn around and leave will ya?”

“Yeah, not gonna happen.” Mara says.

“Well suit yourselves.” They both raise their hands in the air then slam them down. At the moment their hands point to the ground, there is the sound of something flying through the air, no things. Adora looks up to the sky and sees about thirty rocks the size of her palm flying in the air.

“Get to cover!” She yells pulling her reins to guide Swifty to a little cove that will shelter him form the debris. She hops off of him wrapping his reins around a dried root. “Stay here, it’s safe. I’ll be back I promise.” She waits until she hears all the rocks settle. 

“Is everyone alright?!” Mara Yells.

“Me and Bow are okay!” Perfuma yells back.

“Adam got hit as well as his horse, but he is okay!” Glimmer yells.

“I’m okay!” Adora yells. 

Adora sneaks around the corner to get a better look at what is going on. She looks up to the top of the rocks and sees about thirty people at the top with piles of rocks next to them, and what looks like slingshots. Big ones. And they are already loaded and looking for their signal. She is looking around the walls to see if she can get up there, and she sees a part of the wall she can climb, she just needs to get to it without getting hit. She needs to get to Bow. She looks around the corner again and a rock hit right above her head, and she jumps back. She needs to time this right.

“You guys really don’t take a hint, do you?” They both put their hands up again and swing them down.

The rocks go flying again and when she can't hear anymore rocks, she runs.

“Bow!” She yells.

“Here!” He is to the left behind a boulder, she runs and slides to the left smashing into the boulder “Adora are you alright?” He is looking her over to see if she is okay.

“I need you to distract them up top, give me time to climb up and flank them. But I need to go check on Adam first, then I will get those assholes. Do you think you can do that?” she is grabbing both his shoulders firmly.

“Yes, yes I can do that. I’ll take as many out as I can.” He places his hands on her shoulders, “Be careful.” They both nod at each other and he knocks back an arrow. “Ready?” She nods and he stands up and starts shooting arrows at a high speed. She runs over to where Glimmer and Adam are.

“Hello sister,” Adam smiles at her lip busted and bruising starting around it. “Another addition to my sexy scar collection.” she shoves him.

“Are you both alright?” Adora looks between both and they both nod. “Good Adam, I need your help.” She explains the plan to him, and he agrees to it, they both sheath their swords and stand at the edge of the wall, she gets Bow’s attention, and he nods and starts to shoot arrows at the people up top again, Bow is one of the best archers Adora knows. So, she is not surprised when she sees he has knocked down at least ten of them up top. 

The twins ran around the corner and immediately started climbing the jagged rock wall, Glimmer stayed put, there was a gap in the corner that she was hidden in, she used it to see when they were reloading rocks onto the giant slingshots and used that to their advantage, signaling to Bow when he could shoot his arrows.

“I hate the desert!” Adam says through gritted teeth, “These rocks are so fucking sharp!”

The rocks' sharp edges were prickling their hands as they gripped on to climb.

“What happened to adding to your ‘sexy scar collection’” Adora let out a hiss, she sliced her pinky. She checked it really quick to see if it was bad, noticing it was a small cut she continued her ascend to the top of the ridge.

“I need my hands in perfect shape.” Adam huffed. 

Once they were at the top it was almost instant, the people manning the first slingshot pulled out their scimitars and charged them. There were at least seventeen of them left. Adam dodged the first two and kicked the thirds legs from underneath them, when he righted himself, he unsheathed his long sword and pushed further in. Adora unsheathed her sword and began her fight with the two Adam dodged, she blocked a couple blows from the first man and when he went to jab, she jumped back and grabbed his wrist, twisting it pulling him forward and then twisting it behind his back. At that same time the other man went to slash at her, but she quickly moved the man she had in a lock and his chest gushed blood all over the other man's face from the long gash. He was momentarily blinded and frantically wiped at his eyes, when he was able to see again Adora gave him a grin before she kicked him off the edge. She heard her brother grunting, he had four men attacking him at once, she ran over to him.

“Adam under!” She yelled, he widened his stance and she slid under him and the man in front of him and sliced the man's thigh, she definitely hit the artery, he was bleeding a steady thick stream. She pulled her dagger out and threw it at one of the men holding the slingshot, it hit him right in the temple. Standing right again she kicked one of the two left of the four attacking her brother in the back bushing him into her brother's blade then sweeping the other guy's legs from under him and stabbing him in the chest. 

“Let's get the rest of these bastards.” She tells her brother.

***

Adora pulls her dagger out of the temple of one of the men on the ground, placing a foot on his head as she pulls. Wiping the blood on his shirt before turning to her brother. Her hands were shaking, she was breathing shallowly. 

“Hey, hey, hey.” Adam hurries to her, grabbing onto her forearm and placing their foreheads together. “I’m here, we are okay. We did it, and we did it to save our friends. Do you want to breathe with me?” he asks his other hand cupping her face, she barely nods, and they both close their eyes and take deep long breaths and let them out in long exhales. They always calmed each other down as children, when her and Adam were separated the only other person who could help her calm down and recenter, was Catra. And when Catra wasn’t there Adora had a very hard time, without her brother and Catra it was almost impossible for her to calm down, she would bury herself in work or training. It was nice to have her brother back, at least she had someone who knew her through in through, even though she would love to have the two people that made her feel that way there. She will have to settle for one.

They climbed down the rocky walls of the valley and regrouped with the others. Mara had both her swords out, one pointed at the man's neck and her foot on the woman's head.

“Why did you go and do that, she is gonna be so pissed at me.” Mara spat, “And putting my cousins in danger, I should kill you for that. But I’ll be merciful. Take me to fucking Huntara, it’s urgent.”

“Why don’t you turn around and talk to me yourself?” a voice echoed behind Mara, “Damn girl, you really just went and killed my men?” 

Mara turned around to glare at the voice, “They attacked first.” Mara sheathed her swords. “Come out and show yourself coward!” Mara yelled.

The only way Adora could describe the woman that walked out and into the light, would be a mountain, a fucking giant of a woman, with corded tight ginormous muscles all over her tanned skin, she had long platinum blonde hair in a ponytail, she looked fucking fierce. Adora couldn’t help but blush at how short the women's shorts were and the sleeveless tunic she was wearing, that most definitely showed off all the muscle. Adam nudged Adora with a smirk on his face, she just shoved his face to the side.

“Alright, I’m here,” She walks up to Mara, who abandons the two she was dealing with to meet this woman halfway. They were mere inches away from each other, Adora’s hand went to reach for the hilt of her sword when Adam nudged her again with a serious face this time and shook his head. “What do we have here, a short-tempered beast?”

“I’m not short!” Mara pushed her finger in the large woman's chest. The large woman just laughed, shoved Mara’s shoulder then pulled her in for a tight hug. “Made a pretty big scene there, are all you Greyskulls this dramatic?” she chuckles.

“Only sometimes Huntara.” Mara laughs, hugging her back.

“Uhhh… what’s going on here…” Bow’s confusion extends to everyone put Adam and Mara.

Adam walks up to Huntara. “Is she here?” she says in almost a pleading voice. Huntara just nods at him. And he was off.

“Come on everyone let's get going, I’ll have my people gather your horses.” Huntara tells everyone.

The whole way to the city Huntara had her arm around Mara and they were talking to each other like old friends. They reached the gates, which looked like they were made of stone and cranked open, and they got near, they were a sight to be see. But it wasn’t as impressive as what was on the inside of the gate, a city full of life. There was an oasis in the middle of it all, tents set up all over instead of buildings. The smell of spices, food, and fragrances hit Adora’s nostrils right when she walked through the gate. It was alive like Plumeria, but in its own rugged way. The people here looked tough and calloused and looked like they had harsher backgrounds. There were no flowers and flowy dresses. It was all mostly food and steel, every weapon you could think of was here. 

They were taken to the largest tent in the city it was on the edge of the oasis, it was obvious it is Huntara’s tent, once they entered it, she finally let go of Mara and walked up to a chair placed on top of a couple marble steps, adorned in gold, silver and every jewel and gem you could think of on it. She got comfortable then looked back at Mara and her face went stoney.

“So, what do you need to speak to me about?” Huntara did a hand motion, and someone ran up to her and handed her a gold goblet.

“I need help getting somewhere, in and out.” Mara said nervously.

“And where is this somewhere?” Huntara took a big swig of her drink, Adora looked around trying to find her brother.

“Fright Castle…” Mara spoke calmly.

Huntara spat out her drink, smacking her chest as she was choking on her drink, a couple servant hurried up to her to help but she just got up out of the chair pushing them away sputtering. “What did you just fucking say?!”

Chapter Text

Huntara grabbed Mara by the arm and dragged her through some tapestry behind her ‘Throne’ a few minutes ago. Bow is talking to Glimmer in hushed tones while she nodded to him with a frown on her face. Perfuma was smiling and looking around the room. Adora stood there shifting from one foot to the other, looking around for any sign of her brother. She walked up to one of the guards and asked them if they knew where he was, and they just looked at each other and laughed, it would have been nice to get a freaking answer.

There was shouting on the other side of the tapestry divider, then a loud laugh. Adora walked back to the group. 

“What do you think is going on back there?” Bow asked in a hushed voice.

“I don’t know, this is all new to me too.” Adora says heart feels a little heavy at the realization, she missed out on a lot of her brother and cousin’s lives. Rubbing her temple she can feel a headache coming. “Did you see Adam at all when we came into the city?” 

“No, but there was a lot going on. I’m sure he is okay, Mara seems fine with his absence…” Glimmer places a hand on Adora’s bicep. “Hey, are you doing, okay?” 

“Yeah, I’m fine, I think it’s the heat.” Adora forces a smile, placing her own hand on top of Glimmer’s for reassurance.

“Okay, let us know if that changes.” Glimmer smiles at her.

“We are here for you.” Bow gives her a wide smile.

She goes back to where she was standing before waiting for the older women to come back. After what feels like hours, they walk back into the main room.

“Alright this is what is going to happen,” Huntara clasps her hands behind her back and takes a deep breath. “First off, you all need baths,” she scrunches up her nose. “Mara bout knocked me out back there, stench alone,” She grinned wide when Mara flipped her the bird. “Then tonight we will feast and celebrate! And we can talk about more details tomorrow, but tonight I want to give my friend a welcome back celebration.” She claps her hands and whistles, five servants walk into the room and stand in front of each of them bowing, “They will take you to your baths and then your rooms for the night, I will send them again to retrieve you for the feast! Make sure Mara scrubs well.” She laughs leaving the room as Mara yells curse words at her.

“This way, Sir.” The servant bows her head, brown curls flowing around her face, and gestures for Adora to follow her. 

“Uh, Adora is just fine, no need for the whole Sir thing…” Adora blushes.

“As you wish, Adora. You may call me Shaha.” Shaha smiles at her. 

She takes Adora to the left with Perfuma, while Glimmer and Bow are taken to the right. They eventually get led outside, walking the paths to another building but it was carved into the side of the valley’s walls. The designs look very old, tall rows of pillars line the inside, lanterns and incense are hung everywhere. It was very calming, there was also the sound of a lute being played somewhere and echoing off the pillars and vibrating everywhere. Adora turns her attention back to Shaha.

“Where did my other friends go?” Adora was confused as to why Glimmer and Bow went a different way if this was the bath house.

“They are at the couples' bathing rooms.” She said simply.

“Couples- excuse me, what?” Perfuma was giggling at Adora’s reaction.

“They are a couple, no?” Shaha looked up at Adora.

“Uh… Not that I know of…” Adora chuckles. “I can’t wait to ask them about it. What is the difference between theirs and ours?” Adora was very curious now.

“Each room has a tub, filled with fresh hot water, herbal mixtures as well as cleaning properties, and a table with towels on it. The couples have the same amenities, the only difference is the tub is built for two.” Shaha smirks, looking forward again.

“Oh,” Adora grins, turning to Perfuma, “I definitely can’t wait to see them later.”

“Adora!” Perfuma pats her on the shoulder, “They are probably petrified right now.” she giggles into her hand.

“They will live.” Adora shrugs.

“Are they not together?” Shaha asks. 

“They are the only ones not aware of it,” Adora sighs, “They are truly blind.”

“Well, then yes, it will be quite interesting.” She says looking amused. “Here is your bathing room, Grace.” Shaha bows and opens a door for Perfuma, “Faye here, will show you the herbal options.” She smiles at Perfuma, gesturing towards the other servant with them, “I made sure they had a wide variety for you, your Grace.”

Perfuma walks up to Shaha and places both hands on her cheeks and leans in to kiss her on the forehead. “Thank you!” and hurries into the room, leaving a blushing Shaha in her wake.

“Your bathing room is down further; I will show you the way.” Shaha averts Adora’s eyes, Adora tries to suppress a chuckle.

They get to Adora’s bathing room, Shaha opens the door and walks in waiting for Adora to enter. The room was covered in paintings of different places in Etheria. There was a table with towels on it, a fireplace and a smaller table by the tub with bottles and bowls full of different colours. 

“I made sure to put out options for muscle relaxants” her eyes quickly went to Adora’s arms. “And relaxation remedies, also I added some sun protectant in the water already, that’s why it’s a murky white.”  Shaha heads back to the door. “Ring that bell when you are immersed into the water, and I will return.” She is halfway through the door when Adora clears her throat.

“Ahem, uh what?” Adora blushes. “Return?”

“To bathe you.” Shaha says matter of factley.

“Oh, no that won’t be necessary!” There is a full flush up to her ears now. “I am sure I can bathe myself. Heh…” she’s rubbing the back of her neck shuffling from one foot to the other.

“Are you sure? I was going to massage your muscles for you, you have had a long journey,” She looks thoroughly confused. 

“I’m sure! I’ll be fine! Thank you though!” Adora’s voice has jumped a few octaves. 

“As you wish, Adora.” she turns to close the door, “Ring when you are done and I will show you to your room, there is a robe on the table too for when you are done as well...” She shuts the door giggling. 

Adora lets out a long deep sigh. She strips out of her dirty clothes and places them in a neat pile on the ground next to the tub. She slowly sinks down into the now very warm water, sighing in delight as she does. A welcome feeling after traveling nonstop for weeks. She pulls her elastic out of her hair and sinks all the way through and lets all the air in her lungs out as she is under. Feeling a slight sting on her skin where she is burnt from the sun, but soon it feels like it's being wrapped in cool silk, and it’s a comforting feeling. When she emerges from the water, she looks at the table. Not knowing what is what, she looked at the bell. I need to know which ones to use, what if you can’t mix them… the water is too murky. Adora looks at the table and sees a bowl full of flower petals, she grabs it and dumps it into the tub and pulls them up to help cover her up. Hoping that should be enough she rings the bell, and the door opens slowly.

“That was a fast bath. Are you sure you are clean?” Shaha jokes.

“Very funny, Shaha.” Adora blushes. “I need help… With what to put in, I don’t want to mix the wrong things…”

“Oh!” Shaha grimaces “I usually do that when I bathe the person, I must have forgot to tell you what was what before I left.” She smirks, and for some reason that makes Adora think of someone else with curly brown hair.

“Oh, well, can you show me really quick?” Adora says sheepishly.

“Of course,” Shaha walks up to the table. “What are you looking for?”

“Something to help with some pain and maybe some relaxation…” Adora looks away blushing.

Shaha grabs three bottles and a bowl of blue powder and places them on the edge of the table closest to Adora.

“This mixture should help, is there anything else I can help you with?” Shaha looks Adora in the eye.

“Uh, no that should be it, thank you.” Adora rubs her arms, causing her arm to flex. Shaha notices and starts to blush looking away fast.

“Alright, enjoy your bath Sir- I mean Adora.” She hurries out of the room and closes the door.

Adora quickly dumps all the contents into her bath and sinks down. Slowly her body aches from the fight earlier seep out of her bones and muscles. She feels relaxed for the first time; she lays her head back basking in the feeling of just breathing for the first time. 

Once the water cools and her body feel refreshed, she takes a cloth and scrubs her body and gets out of the bath, walking over to the towels she dries herself off and grabs the white robes and puts them on, she slips on the slippers. Picking up her pile of dirty clothes she heads to the door and opens it to find Shaha waiting outside.

“I can take those for you.” Shaha reaches for Adora’s clothes and armor. “I’ll have these cleaned and polished for you. Now let me show you to your room.”

They walk down the same path towards the giant tent but then walk past it to a few tents down. Once outside a white tent with gold trim she opens the flaps to it and holds it for Adora. There is incense everywhere, and lanterns casting shadows of tiny stars everywhere. She walks past Adora to a hall that looks like it has five rooms. She walks up to the first one on the right and stands next to it.

“This is your room, there is a change of clothes in there for you and your bags, if you need anything there will be a servant at the end of the hall at all times.” She bows her head and starts to walk away. Adora puts her hand on Shaha’s shoulder to stop her.

“Thank you, for all your help.” her cheeks dusted pink, Shaha nods at Adora.

“You’re welcome,” She looks up, “Adora.” then walks away. 

Adora shakes her head. Walks in the room and stops in her tracks. Bow is in her room sitting on her bed. He stands up quickly, a flush on his face up to his ears, he is wearing a robe.

“Adora! How was your bath?!” He says with a forced smile, he looks in pain.

“It was pretty nice, Bow, why are you in my room?” Adora raises an eyebrow.

“Uhhhh… There are only five rooms… And I was like oh, me and Adam are sharing a room, but they were like, no, that one room was for me and Glimmer, and there is one bed in there. I don’t want to make her feel weird, so I told her I would ask you if you would be willing to switch with me?” He grimaces fiddling with his fingers. “I’ll even help you with your stuff!”

“Sure,” Adora grabs some of her things. “Come on.”

“Thank you Adora! I owe you one.” He sighs.

They grab her things and head to the big room at the end, opening it to see Glimmer laying sprawled out on the bed.

“Hey Glimm.” Adora sets her things down and places her clean clothes on the edge of the bed. Glimmer just grunts in response.

Bow sets the rest of Adora’s things down and heads out of the room saying something, but Adora didn’t hear what he said. She picks up the clothes and walks behind a divider to change into the fresh clothes given to her. 

“Adora, I want to die.” Glimmer is muffled by the pillow she is lying face down in.

“And why is that?” Adora grins to herself. “Could it be the ‘Couples Bathing Room’?” Adora snorts.

“By the Goddess! How do you know!?” Glimmer screeches through the pillow.

“Shaha told me.” Adora walks out from behind the divider, “I think this shirt is too small.” Adora had on a white silk shirt with a gold star on her chest, and white silk pants with gold trim with a gold silk waist belt. The sleeves hugged Adora’s arms tight. She walked over to the leather boots she was given while hers were being polished and started putting them on.

“What! Oh, well fuck! Everyone knows… Great, kill me.” Glimmer groans.

“Do you kno-” 

“It was fucking Mara, I’m sure of it.” Glimmer sits up finally, “I’m going to murder her.” Glimmer looks up at Adora and blushes. “Holy shit Adora, your arms look amazing in that…” 

“I- Glimmer shut up.” Adora shoves her. “Have you seen my brother?” 

“No, but I did ask Mara when I saw her, she said something about him visiting someone. I guess he will be at the feast.” Glimmer says laying back in the bed. 

“I’m going to kick him, anyways. Are you going to get ready?” Adora glances at Glimmer still in her bath robes.

“Uggghhhh! Fine” Glimmer dramatically rolls out of the bed. Grabs a bundle of clothes and heads to the divider.

“I can’t wait to eat, I am starving.” Adora plops down on the edge of the bed, hand on her stomach.

“And that’s a surprise?” Glimmer deadpans.

Glimmer walks out of the divider; she is wearing a purple and pink silk gown with gold trim and the same star on the chest. Adora smiles up at her.

“You look amazing Glimmer.” Adora stands, and bows. “My Grace.”

Glimmer walks past Adora shoving her into the bed and going to the nightstand to pick up the earrings and necklace that came with the gown.

“Are you both decent?” Bow’s voice could be heard on the other side of the door. 

“Yes!” both of the girls yell at the same time and giggle.

Bow walks in dressed in the same design as Adora, except for the fact his abdomen is exposed and his is all gold silk. Shaha walks in behind him. She is dressed in a simple silver gown, she curtsies.

“Your Grace,” When she straightens up, she glances at Adora, a blush dusting her cheeks. “If you are all ready, I can lead you to the feast.”

“Yes, I am ravenous.” Adora says hand on her stomach.

“I will lead the way.” Shaha turns on her heel and exits the room.

They follow her out to the main area of their tent, where Mara was waiting for them with Perfuma. She was wearing the same design as Adora but a deep purple, and Perfuma with a pink and mint green silk gown.

“Are you ready?” Mara says with a wide grin.

They all head outside, the sound of music and the smell of roasted meats fill the air. Adora’s mouth waters and her stomach growls. She places her hand on her stomach again to try and tame the beast roaring inside her. Mara notices and chuckles to herself, she drapes an arm around Adora’s shoulder and pulls her in.

“Don’t worry little cousin, Huntara doesn’t skimp on food. You will be well fed.” She pats Adora’s arm. “Damn Adora, you’ll surely rip your sleeves off with how tight that is.” 

“That is partially my fault.” Shaha bites her lip, “I may have misjudged her size. My apologies.” 

Mara leans into Adora and whispers in her ear. “I think she just wanted to see your arms better.” She pulls away laughing before Adora could shove her off. Adora is blushing furiously.

“It’s totally fine, it’s not that tight.” Adora mumbles, pulling back to walk beside Perfuma.

They reach a tent with a whole side opened up, a long table with a giant chair at the center and smaller chairs across on the same side of it. The chairs face out towards the open wall. Adam is standing outside, wearing the exact thing as Adora but black instead of white. He smiles wide when he sees her and strides towards her.

“Ah! They have arrived! Hey, sister I want you to meet- Ow! What was that for!” Adora kicked him.

“For just leaving! You fucking ass.” She says through gritted teeth.

“You must be Adora, this ass’s sister.” A woman says walking up to Adora with her hand out. “I’m Teela, this ass’s friend.” Teela was as tall as Adora, with auburn hair and the bluest eyes Adora has ever seen, she was wearing an emerald green gown.

“I-... Ahem, hello. Yes. I am sister.” Adora wraps her fingers around Teela’s forearm, and she has solid muscle. Adora slightly blushes. Teela places a hand on her shoulder with a sweet smile on her face.

“It is nice to finally meet you, I thought he and Mara were making you up for sure.” She laughs, pulling away to check on Adam. “Are you done crying? Let us eat!” 

They all stood by the chairs they were assigned, waiting for Huntara to sit down so they all could. Once seated she told them all to dig in. And with that okay to dig in, Adam, Adora and Mara sure as hell did. Not one person batted an eye at how the trio devoured their food, with each plate emptied it was replaced by a full one. They laughed and told stories of victories, and of course the upping one another on who had the best battles. 

Adora instantly hit it off with Teela. They shared stories of Adam, them being to his expense or to tell of his best moments. Mara and Huntara would talk in hushed tones every once in a while, until Huntara said something sternly to Mara, and Mara stopped and engaged with everyone. Sasha was on the right of Huntara, and Adora on the other side of her. When she wasn’t talking to Teela over her brother who was to her right. She would talk to Shaha, who it turns out isn’t really a servant but Huntara’s right hand, she deals with all the ‘Meaningless hub bub’ That Huntara doesn’t want to deal with. Like bathing and arranging rooms for out of nowhere guests and at the same time arranging a feast and festivities for the night.

Adora was impressed with how she looked so well put together, because she would have no hair by the end of the night if it was her dealing with all of that. That made Shaha bite her lip smiling, looking Adora in the eye. Her hazel eyes boring into Adora’s. Which got interrupted by her brother elbowing her.

“Isn’t that right, Adora?” Adam grins.

“Sorry, what?” Adora blushes.

“You love dancing.” He smirks.

“No, I don’t.” She says flatly, taking a sip of wine.

“No, you don’t know how. But you love it.” Adam has a shit eating grin on his face.

“I can show you how to dance.” Shaha says.

“I-”

“That would be wonderful! Right Adora?” Adam pats her hard on the shoulder. “Plus, dancing here is not as stiff as Brightmoon.” He whispers leaning into Adora covering his mouth. “And she is pretty, you need to relax for once.”

“Adam, I am relaxed.” Her rigid posture says otherwise, and Adam raises an eyebrow at her.

“Fine…” she grumbles.

“You can always say no, you do know that?” Shaha says concern in her voice.

Adora shook her head. “No, I’m proving this ass I can do this.” she says with a smile.

They eat dessert and fresh fruit, watching the fire performers. Bow covering his mouth and gasping in concern for their safety, Glimmer was yelling at them to do more of the more dangerous moves. Adora smiles to herself looking at all her friends and family, finally relaxed, and maybe the wine helped but she won’t admit that.

Once they were done with their performance music picked up with a fast beat song, the lute player strumming like his life depended on it, the drummer's hands a blur. People of the city filled the open space dancing, it was odd for Adora, because they weren’t consistent with their steps, their motions were fluid, like they floated around each other like water. She leans forward awestruck at how graceful they all looked, even in total chaos.

Adam stood and held his hand out to Teela who smiled and took his hand standing and letting him lead her to the dance floor, he spun her then they disappeared into the cluster of people. She could hear his laugh over the music and people. Bow stood and did the same to Perfuma, who took his hand giggling, and they were off. Huntara made a spectacle when she stood and made her way to Glimmer, bowing low and her hand out to Glimmer asking if the princess would bless her with a dance. Which wiped the scowl on her face from Bow deserting her for Perfuma. She said yes and was off. It left Mara, Shaha and Adora alone at the table.

“You young bones should go dance,” Mara says, sipping her glass of wine, “Go, I want to drink and grovel by myself.”

“Missing Hope?” Adora asks. 

Mara doesn’t even hide the long sigh. “Yes…” She eyes Adora, “Go have fun, let me be depressed.” She pouts.

Adora bites her lip frowning, then shakes her head straightening herself. She was about to stand to extend her hand out to Shaha to ask her to dance when she sees a hand extend to her out of her peripheral, she looks up to see the hand belongs to Shaha.

“I promise I’ll go easy on you.” She smirks.

“I’ll hold you to it.” Adora says, taking her hand and standing. Shaha leads her to the edge of the dance floor.

Shaha takes Adora’s hand going on the tips of her toes to try and spin Adora, which Adora is sure looks ridiculous because she is a whole head taller than Shaha and she has to bend low to be spun. Shaha is giggling at her, then places her hands on Adora’s shoulders and lightly shakes them.

“You are going to need to loosen your muscles, I know you are full of them but to dance you need to relax them.” Shaha starts to squeeze Adora’s shoulder. “Come on Knight, you slay all the evils of the realm and been in many battles. This is time to enjoy yourself.” Adora huffs trying her hardest to relax. “Yes, there you go!” Shaha laughs. “I think you are ready!” She grabs Adora’s hand and pulls her onto the dance floor.

“But! But you didn’t teach me anything!” Adora is panicking.

“You know how to spin and spin me, that is all now hold on.” Shaha grabs her other hand, and she pulls back and starts spinning Adora, they are spinning in a circle, then Shaha lets go of one of Adora’s hands and twirls. She is moving her feet with the beat of the drum, there are now flutes and string instruments playing. As the music gets faster the faster, they spin and twirl and move their feet to the beat. At some point Adam grabbed her hand and now everyone is holding hands in a line running in circles, Adam then breaks the circle by spinning Adora and not letting go until she is tangled with Shaha, who lets go of the person's hand she was holding. Adora realizes she is plastered to the front of her, blushing she pulls away but then pulls Shaha into the middle of the mass of people dancing, she is laughing, actual laughs that open up her chest and feel light. She continues dancing until the music stops, Shaha curtsies bowing her head.

“Thank you for the dance,” She smirks, “You should give yourself more credit, once relaxed you are a decent dancer, enjoy the rest of your night Adora...” she giggles, pulling away from Adora heading to a group of people who were motioning for her to join them.

Grinning, Adora walks up to the table and grabs her glass of wine and downing the whole thing, leaning against the table she looks up at the dance floor to see her friends and brother laughing, smiling and having a good time. She feels someone lean on the table next to her, she looks over to Mara who has a shit eating grin on her face.

“So, did you have fun?” She has a jug of wine in her hand and starts pouring some in Adora’s glass. “You looked like you were enjoying yourself.” Her grin turned into a soft smile.

“Yes, I did. I like this style of dancing better than the Brightmoon style.” Adora confesses.

“So do I, my young cousin.” Mara pours herself some wine, sets the jug down then raises her glass. “Do better music and dancing, and to you, for not combusting dancing with a beautiful woman.”

“Shut up,” Adora clinks her glass to Mara’s anyways.

They stand there for a few moments in comfortable silence. Mara excuses herself saying that she drank one too many glasses and might end up like Adam if she doesn’t relieve herself right away. With Mara gone, Adora was by herself again, she downed the rest of her wine and decided to see what the city had to offer her. She didn’t go more than a couple streets so she wouldn’t get lost. 

Adora was looking at a small wooden sword a merchant was trying to sell, it was obviously made for a child. She spun it in her hand, a kid next to her gasped and asked her to do it again. So, she did, and she even threw in some sword tricks. Children gathered around her all mouths agape. They were whispering to each other quite loudly about how cool the tricks were, or how big her muscles were. A couple kids talked about how they want to grow up to be tall, pretty and strong like her. Eventually she stopped and placed the sword down and told the merchant maybe next time she will buy it.

Adora walked away from the stand, and she felt someone shoulder check her, she didn’t see their face, only the back of them as they walked away, they looked familiar from the way the person was sauntering away. Then a familiar smell hit her. Cinnamon. They had a maroon cloak on and long curly brown hair. Adora froze in her spot. It can’t be her. Adora can feel her heart pumping blood hard into her neck, she felt lightheaded. Catra?... The figure that looks like Catra turns left down between two tents; it is a narrow path. So Adora follows. She goes in between the two tents. The only thing there are a few crates, so she walks further down. She ends up in the middle between four tents and the sound of the city is muffled. There is no one here, she huffs leaning her back against one of the crates closing her eyes.

“I knew you were a dumbass, but damn does it make my job a lot easier.” A raspy voice says in front of her. Adora opens her eyes wide to see two different coloured eyes, one golden the other sapphire. Whatever words she had are now stuck in her throat.

“Hey, Adora.” Catra smirks. She trails one long nailed finger down Adora’s arm. “I see you have been busy.” 

“Catra?” Adora finally breathes. 

“So observant.” Catra deadpans.

“I- I- how?!” Adora stutters.

Catra leans in, both hands on Adora’s shoulders. She pulls in close to Adora and her lips are ghosting the shell of Adora’s ear, which makes Adora’s whole body shiver. And whispers.

“Shadow Weaver sent me,” She used the name they used for Lady Weaver, the familiarity of it almost knocked Adora back, if she wasn’t already plastered to the crate behind her. Catra pulled away with a smirk.

What happened next Adora was not prepared for. Catra pulled Adora forward by her shoulders, it felt so normal for her, so she just followed Catra’s lead. But then Catra’s smirk turned into a scowl, and she pulled hard, bending Adora forward and kneeing her in the gut. Adora let out a grunt and hit the ground on her knees. Adora did everything in her power not to vomit everywhere. 

“Catra-” Adora wheezed.

“No, you don’t get to say shit.” Catra growls.

Adora tries to get back to her feet, but Catra kicks her side. Now holding her side with one hand and the other out to Catra.

“Catra, stop.” Adora coughs and it hurts, she is definitely going to bruise there.

“I said shut up.” Another kick this time to Adora’s face.

Adora vision starts to get blurry, Catra isn’t holding back one ounce. She lays on her back gasping for air, she wipes at her nose to see blood. Shaking her head, she rolls over and stands quickly, already in a defense stance.

“Catra, please let’s talk.” Adora says, eyes pleading.

“I said no.” Catra lunges at her, and Adora dodges.

It was almost like they were younger again, in the training room sparring. But this time Catra wasn’t holding back her hits. Every time she made contact with Adora it slowed Adora down, because she was just taking the hits. She would take them, thinking Catra just needed to get this off her chest. Adora’s sleeves were restricting her movements, so she ripped them down, she went to swing. But when Catra stopped and pulled back and straightening her tunic, which had a window in the front showing-

“I feel better, Scorp take it away.” Catra nodded behind Adora.

“Who?” Adora turned around to see a woman taller than her with short white hair and was built like an ox. She had a giant ax in her hand. “What the-” 

Adora came in with the worst pain to the side of her head, there was a strain in her neck, her body felt heavy, and she couldn’t focus her sight or hearing. She tried to wipe her eyes, but her hands were tied behind her back, she tried to yell but her mouth was gagged. All her senses came to that moment she started to breathe heavily. 

“Oh gosh, I hope I didn’t kill her. I didn’t mean to hit her that hard. Is she going to be, okay?” The tall woman Scorp or whatever was saying frantically.

“Trust me, her head is too big.” Catra says back.

Adora tries to pull on the ropes around her wrist and wiggles a little. Catra turns to her and kicks her in the stomach.

“Knock it off.” She grabs her by the front of her tunic and has her on her on her knees. “Time to go Scorpia.” She stands next to Adora and puts her hand out in front of her, slowly a black swirl starts to show in front of them and gets bigger. Adora hears a familiar loud laugh, it’s Adam. She turns her head and sees him and starts screaming trying to make sound through the cloth gag around her mouth. He stops laughing and looks everywhere but where she is. Dumbass! Adora leans back and writes something on the ground in the sand as she is screaming again. This time Adam turns and looks down the alleyway, he squints then his eyes go wide.

“Adora!” He shouts. Adora is trying her hardest to yell Adam’s name. He starts to run towards them. “Adora!” He looks at Catra and beelines towards her, Adora knows he is going to try and tackle her. 

Then there is a portal, Catra looks over her shoulder, smirks, goes behind Adora and kicks in between her shoulder blades shoving her through the portal, Scorpia walks through it and as it starts to close Adam pushes himself to run faster. When he is about five feet away and mid jump Catra gives him, a sinister smile waving at him as she walks backwards into the portal. And then it closes right when he is a few inches away. He stumbles and turns around looking everywhere. 

“ADORA!” He yells. “ADORA!” Teela runs after him. 

“What happened?” She puts her hands on his shoulders. “Hey, breathe for me okay.” He shrugs her off looking at the ground, he walks up to the discarded ripped sleeve from Adora’s tunic. Next to it written in the sand are five letters.

Catra.

Chapter Text

She went face first into the cool stone ground, rolling onto her side trying to catch her breath. Whatever happened, it made her head spin and unable to keep eyes straight. There was a wavering ringing in her ears, she couldn’t hear anything that was going on. Whatever black portal thing Catra kicked her through, made her feel the strongest effects of vertigo she has ever felt. She was yanked up to her feet, heavily relying on whoever was the lucky one to keep her up right. She shook her head, she was getting really dizzy and right when she thought she got her footing she bent forward and vomited. She felt the person that was holding her up pull away slightly, but impressively keep her standing up right. She felt better but she couldn’t focus her eyes still. Spitting on the ground, she tried to stand up straight. Even though she was dizzy, and probably at this point concussed she felt the power of the Guide, she smirked and closed her eyes. Feeling the oh so natural feeling of it tingling at her fingertips. She heard someone shout something, and then something clasps around her neck and the energy that was just crackling at her fingers. 

Stopped.

Like a tight rope being cut, snapped and gone.

She tried again but, nothing. She opened her eyes, more focused now than before. She was in the throne room of Fright Castle.

No.

She looked around, Horde banners lined the walls. The table she dreaded kneeling at for years, doing the bidding of the evil Lord of the castle is right in front of her. But when she looked up at the table, it wasn’t Lord Prime, but Lady Weaver. She was sitting at her chair, hand barely holding a goblet and she held it lazily. She was glaring at someone. Adora followed her eyeline and turned her head to see Catra. Catra held eye contact with Lady Weaver, almost like challenging her. Adora’s hearing slowly came back to her, she heard muffled words. Lady Weaver wasn’t happy with whatever Catra was saying, but that isn’t far off from normal. Weaver says something and Catra finally looks down to the ground, kneels bowing her head then stands to leave

Adora looked back at Lady Weaver, she was looking directly at Adora. It sends a chill down her spine, like a ghost creeping down her back. It was very unpleasant. It looks like she is trying to say something to Adora, she just tilts her head in confusion. The person holding her up starts speaking, Adora looks over her shoulder to see the Scorpia person, which makes sense why she was able to be held upright. Her hearing slowly but gradually comes back to her.

“-At least that what happened to me the first time, I threw up twice though. I'm actually surprised she only threw up once. I still get queasy from the portal thing Catra does.” Somehow, even with Adora not hearing most of what she said, she said all that in one breath.

“When will she be able to hear?” Lady Weaver’s voice makes Adora wince. “Ah, I believe you can hear me now?” She can hear the sinister smirk in her voice. Adora spits on the ground again.

“Unfortunately.” Adora is glaring at Lady Weaver with the power of a thousand suns.

“You are probably wondering why you are here.” She puts her goblet down, standing and almost floating around the table. “I took you in, I fed you, I clothed you,” she glides down the steps. “I trained you in controlling the Guide and you were the first to fully grasp the actual power of it.” She stood at the end of the stairs, motioning her head to in front of her. She felt Scorpia guide her to where Lady Weaver is. Once a foot away from her, her knees are kicked from behind forcing her to kneel. Slamming her knees into the cold stone, jaw clenched not wanting to show her pain to the woman who caused most of it. If not by pushing her, then by torturing Catra to motivate her to do better. 

Lady Weaver is probably going feral having Adora so helpless right now. Kneeling, bound and powerless.

“And you repay me by leaving me,” She cups Adora’s face, “It’s time you come home, and finish what we started.” Adora yanks her face away from Lady Weaver's grasp.

“This was never my home. This was a prison, and you made me use my powers for the wrong reasons.”

“Oh, come on, Adora. And you are using them for good now? You are still using it to hurt people.” She laughs humorlessly,” Just now it’s justified, right?” She takes a loose strand of hair and tucks it behind Adora’s ear. “With what you hold, it’s more than me and you. It’s more than the Rebellion and the Horde. What you hold is something we need to get to.” she pulls away standing taller if this is even possible. The only time she breaks is when she falls into a coughing fit, and that’s when Adora sees it. The scarring on her face is worse than before, her skin no longer with colour, grey like a corps. No longer smelling of roses, but of sour wine and death.

“You are not well, you think you can intimidate me?” Adora squares her shoulders. “I’m not helping you use me as your bandage.” 

“The fact you think you have a choice is cute.” She turns to walk back to her chair, using the table to help her steady herself. “Put her in a cell, she will need rest and get her injuries looked at. And maybe some food, since she so nicely showed us the contents of her stomach.” She motions for them to leave.

“Alright, up you go.” Scorpia once again, just lifts Adora up without a single sound of struggle. “Oh, man you are heavy. Wouldn’t expect it from someone your size.”

“What do you mean? I’m actually pretty tall and big for my size.” Adora is definitely offended.

“I’m just saying, smaller than me. But then everyone is smaller than me.” Scorpia goes on to list everyone smaller than her. Until one name sticks. “Catra is smaller than me too, but she is definitely waaaaay stronger than she looks.”

“Yeah, she is. How do you know her?” The grip on Adora’s shoulder tightens, and she will be damned if she shows it affects her. Something about Scorpia changed. She suddenly tenses and gets colder.

“When you left, she didn’t take it well. So Wild Cat kept to herself. Anyone who would try to train with her got mauled.” She yanks Adora to the left down a corridor, instead of you know, telling her which way to go. “So, I stepped up. And I guess, I could handle her hits. And we slowly became best friends.” Adora frowns at that.

“Where is she, uh, will she-” Scorpia grabs onto the front of Adora’s tunic and slams her into the wall pressing hard.

“You don’t get to talk to her, look at her, or even breathe in her direction after what you put her through.” She is breathing hard and has a murderous look in her eyes. “Is that clear?”

“Crystal.” Adora wheezes.

“Then we are good, now no more Wild Cat talk. She hates it when I talk about her.” She lets go of Adora and pushes her towards a spiral staircase going down.

“Can I ask one question? I swear it will be the last.” Adora looks nervously at Scorpia.

“Sure,” She eyes Adora, “Just this one though.”

“Why Wild Cat?” Adora raises an eyebrow.

Scorpia laughs, belly laughs even. Holding her stomach she uses her other hand to clap it on the back of Adora’s shoulder. Which definitely doesn’t hurt Adora and even if it did, she isn’t letting Scorpia know.

“Have you seen her? She has the attitude of a Wild Cat. fierce, agile, cunning, and beautiful.” Scorpia blushes. “I-I mean you know, like yeah. Anyways.” Adora’s eyebrows shoot up, pouting her lips she looks forward and focuses on just climbing down the stairs. 

They reach the bottom in total silence. They walk past a couple cells until they reach an empty one. Scorpia all but shoves Adora in and slams the cell door shut.

“Lean against the bars and I’ll untie you.” Scorpia commands. Adora obeys and Scorpia unties her hands. Adora slowly moves her arms to in front of her, turning around rubbing her wrists and rolling her shoulders, she glances up at Scorpia.

“Thank you." Adora mumbles.

“You’re welcome.” And with that Scorpia is gone.

Adora heads over to the cot in the corner of the cell, still rubbing her wrists. She looks around the cell, there is a bucket in the corner, a cot and a barred window. The window is too small for her to try to go through even if she could get the bars off. Feeling the weight around her neck Adora finally assesses what they put around it. It feels like it's made of metal, she can feel what she thinks is a gem in the center. She tries to feel for a buckle, but it feels seamless. She tries to tug on it to see if she can pull it off. In doing so she feels a zap on the nape of her neck. She yelps and stops messing around with the thing.

Guards come by with food, and a healer is brought in to check on her. But for them to do that she has to stand against the cell’s bars and be cuffed to the bars. The healer puts ointment on her face in random spots, then gives her some pain elixir and leaves. 

Adora doesn’t know how long she has been in the Cell. But she knows it’s been more than one day. They gave her three meals. And in a few hours, they will give her her fourth. She can’t see the sun, so she assumes the window above her isn’t to the outside. She uses her time to meditate and workout, if she is stuck here, she isn’t going to lose her strength.

After a while Adora loses count how many days she has been in the cell. She wishes they would let her change at least. Her white and gold tunic covered in blood and dirt with small flecks of vomit. The white isn’t even white anymore. 

Adora is laying on her cot legs dangling off the edge, as she counts the stones on the wall for the hundredth time, when a guard comes up and tells her to put her hands through the bars so she can cuff her wrist. Saying Lady Weaver wants to see her. Adora stands finally ready to get out of the cell and see what is going on.

They head the way she has walked many times before; it gives her the chills every time. They are at the door to Lady Weaver's study, the guard knocks on the door. There is a moment of silence then a very pale Catra opens the door, she averts Adora’s eyes pushing past her. Adora doesn’t know why she does it but she quickly reaches out to Catra before she can get away from her, grabbing on to her forearm. Catra stops in her place, like a frozen statue. She turns her head slowly to look at the hand on her forearm. Her face softens and she looks almost sad when she talks to Adora.

“Please, don’t.” She uses her free hand to pull Adora’s hand away from her. “Just leave me alone.” She walks away without another word.

Adora’s eyes water, she clears her throat and straightens up. 

“Come in.” Lady Weaver’s sickeningly sweet voice travels out to the hall.

Adora walks into the room, the guard staying at the door.

“Stay guard, and no matter what you hear, don't let anyone in. Now close the door.” The guard follows orders.

“What do you want?”

“Many things, but mostly power. You see Adora, you have First Ones blood in you. The chosen people of the Guide and it’s light, it’s power. Lord Prime, if he knew would have siphoned you at a young age, I waited. I wanted you to grow your powers. Get stronger. The stronger you are, the power you wield. Which in turn will be enough to restore me back to my full strength.” with the flick of her wrist, shadows started to float like tendrils out of her hair and slowly inch closer and closer to Adora.

“So, what is your plan to siphon me?” Adora glares at her.

“No,” Slowly walks up to her. “I’m going to extract the Guide right out of you. That beautiful Bright blue star will be mine, and you, if you are lucky, will be a shell of the person you once were.” The shadows wrap around every part of Adora forcing her down to her knees.

“And if I’m not?” Adora asks.

“There won’t be a shell left to be hollow.” Lady Weaver’s eyes crinkle the only sign she is smiling. “Now let’s get started, shall we?” 

The shadows pick Adora up and glide her over to a table. The cuffs are taken off and her arms spread out and restrained. She tries to pull on them, but they won’t budge. 

“It will take long, and it will hurt.” Lady Weaver stands at the head of the table, placing her hands on either side of Adora’s temples.

Then a surge of pain through out of Adora’s body, a guttural scream rips through her throat. It feels like fire is running through her veins, slowly working its way to her chest. Then another surge of pain and all Adora can do is grit her teeth, she can taste blood. The second surge feels like her flesh is being torn from her body, a quick glance down confirms it’s only a feeling. Slowly she feels a pressure in the middle of her chest, that’s when she feels like her own soul is being ripped from her chest. Her limbs go numb and then it travels until it hits the center of her chest.

“You don’t even know the power you hold!” Lady Weaver yells. “I am merely having a taste, and it’s so powerful. How you have been able to hold this within is a miracle.”

Adora’s whole body goes numb, all she feels now is a pressure in her chest, like something is being ripped out but she can’t feel it. The room slowly goes dark. She feels it.

Like a tether.

So tight.

She feels it frail.

Tears fall in streams from her eyes.

I failed them all.

She can feel it, it’s about to snap.

I failed them, and she will destroy them.

Because of me.

She is ready to give up.

The door to the study flies open, and there is a bright flash. And like a boulder being slammed into her chest everything comes back to her. The table breaks and the restraints are off of her. She looks up to see Lady Weaver on the ground and Catra above her. She puts something around Lady Weaver's neck, it’s black metal with a deep red gem in the middle. 

“Catra?” Adora’s voice comes out hoarse.

Catra stands up straight, her hands clenched then relaxed, she turns around almost mechanically and faces Adora. Adora’s eyes go wide and gasps. Because in place of the gold and sapphire eyes that she always knew and even with the long time apart has always seen clearly. Are vivid sickly green, almost glowing. She walks over to Adora lifting her up and guiding her out the door. Catra turns to the guard.

“Take Lady Weaver to a cell. And wait further instructions” Catra’s monotone is unnerving.

“Catra, what happened, in there?” Adora’s throat was burning. But Catra didn’t say anything.

“What is going on?” Still nothing.

“Where are we going?” Catra turns to her then, the glowing green eyes vacant of any emotion.

“To Lord Prime, to show you the light.” Catra says.

Chapter Text

Her boots hit stone ground as she stepped back, the portal dissipated. Her smirk fell, turning into a scowl. Who the fuck was that man? She felt a migraine start to form. She hated teleporting, it always felt like her head was being split open. She rubbed at her temples, took a deep breath. Straightening her shoulders she neutralized her facial expression, the less Lady Weaver knows about her emotions the better. 

“I see you have kept to your word.” Lady Weaver’s bone chilling voice made Catra wince slightly, she turns to the tormentor of her life.

“I said I would get her, didn’t I?” Catra plasters a fake smile on her face.

“Indeed.” Lady weaver looks her up and down. “You look horrible. You are done here.” Lady Weaver shoos her away. 

“I am fine, what are you going to do with her?” Catra shifts slightly on her feet. The pain in her head started to travel.

“That is none of your concern!” At that moment Adora vomits all over the ground in front of her. Catra shows indifference. Adora looked like shit, she had blood all over her face, and bruising. Her white clothes were covered in dirt, blood and sweat. Then Adora made a face and Catra saw her eyes flicker with light.

"Bind her!" Catra Shouts, Scorpia pulls a metal clasp with a deep red gem on it and basically slaps it onto Adora's neck. Now that she was bound and can't use her powers Catra turns her attention back to Lady Weaver.

“Now last I knew,” Catra lips twitch threatening to smile. “Lord Prime doesn’t know about this little ‘errand’ you sent me on.” Catra inspects her nails. “Would be a shame if he found out.” tilting her head slightly she lazily drags her eyes up to meet Lady Weaver’s, a small smirk working its way onto her lips.

“You think you have something against me?” Lady Weaver is glaring hard at Catra. “I think you forget your place.” Lady Weaver’s eyes glow red.

Catra’s whole body seizes, like her whole body is wrapped in lightning. She can feel the pain twitching her muscles. She clenches her jaw, trying to hold on so as not to give Lady Weaver the satisfaction. Lady Weaver’s eyes glow brighter, and the pain becomes too much and Catra can’t hide the pain on her face, that was enough for Lady Weaver. She released her hold on Catra.

If she didn’t have a migraine before she definitely had one now. She stands there panting a little.

“Are we done here?” Catra asks, just wanting to leave to her chambers and deal with her migraine. 

“Yes, I will summon you later to talk about your behavior.” Lady Weaver takes a sip of her wine.

Catra kneels bowing her head and she is out of the throne room. Walking quickly to her chambers. She needs to sit. Once in her chambers she goes to her desk and opens a small box, taking out a small bottle. Popping the cork off she puts it to her lips and tilting her head back she lets the contents inside fill her mouth and she swallows.

“Hello, Kitten.” a figure appears in the corner of her chambers.

“What do you want, DT?” Catra says not surprised by the visit from them.

“I heard that there is a guest at Fright Castle.” The grin on their face shows all their sharp teeth.

“Not a guest. Prisoner, for now at least. Shadow Weaver will have her as a pet again in no time.” Catra turns to them with an unamused face, “Now, what the fuck do you want?”

“Ooooh, touchy subject much?” they bite their lip. “What makes you think I want something?” They pout. “Unless you are offering something…” They raise a perfectly manicured eyebrow up at her.

“Nothing, if that’s it you can go.” Catra gestures to the door.

“Oh, kitten.” DT saunters up to her, running their long nails down her cheek to cup her jaw. “That giant pupping has your emotions by the ba-” Catra shoves their hand away.

“Get the fuck out, now.” She glares daggers at them. They put their hands up in surrender, making their way to the door.

“Alright, I get the hint. Just one more thing.” they look over their slender shoulder. “Keep an eye out and play your cards right.” a flicker of an emotion in their eyes, it throws Catra off. “If you are standing with the wrong person at the end of this, it won’t end well.” and with that they leave the room.

Catra plops down on her chair staring at the fire, totally exhausted emotionally and physically. She leans her head back, feeling the elixir's effects start kicking in. she sighs deep before she slips into sleep.

There is banging on her door, she groans, rubbing her neck. Why the fuck did she fall asleep in her chair. She gets up out of her chair and opens her door. Lonnie is at the door, she looks her up and down.

“You look like shit, Catra.” 

“What the fuck do you want?” Catra is getting tired of people today.

“Weaver requested your presence.” Lonnie shifted uncomfortably. “She seemed pissed.” She stepped away to make room for Catra.

“What else is new?” Catra rolls her eyes and follows Lonnie to Lady Weaver’s study, she knocks on the door, and it opens by itself. Catra walks in and Lady Weaver is standing in the middle of her study hands clasped in front of her.

“Catra, kneel before me.” Lady Weaver says sternly.

Catra walks up to her and kneels, she is eye level with Lady Weaver’s hands. She doesn’t look up. 

“You make me do this,” Her hands move to cup each side of Catra’s face. Catra closes her eyes shut at the feeling, it's so gentle. “All you have to do is listen and not talk back, but you can’t. And as always it gets worse when you are around her. So, I’m going to taint all memories of her, I will go to every memory you have tucked away. And remove her.” Catra’s eyes go wide, knowing if Lady Weaver does that there is a chance Catra will be gone, Adora has been a constant in her life, ever since she was a child. Yeah, maybe they haven’t seen each other in five years, but that doesn’t stop the fact that almost all her memories have her in it. 

Catra doesn’t have a chance to say anything, Lady Weaver digs her nails into Catra’s head, it feels like her nails are weaving through her brain like snakes, tearing and ripping apart memories in its wake.

Catra thinks she is screaming, but she can’t hear a thing. Her throat is sore, but all she hears is voices from her past slowly disappearing and them being familiar to voices of strangers.

After what feels like hours a couple minutes into it there is a knock on the door, then a bang and then finally the door bursts open. And all the pain stops, Catra is panting. She looks up at Lady Weaver and she looks like she is yelling at someone, then she sees Lady Weaver’s eye widen. She motions to the guards to take Catra away. Lady Weaver turns to face her desk looking for something. She doesn’t find out what Lady Weaver was looking for because strong arms pick her up and take her out of the study. As she is being carried out, she sees who was the one that barged in. DT is standing shoulders squared and face with their trademark smirk, but once they make eye contact, their smirk falters a little and they give her the slightest nod. That is all Catra needed to know, she Knows what she needs to do now. She is being carried down a hall. She looks up at who is carrying her and it’s Scorpia. She puts her hand on Scorpia’s shoulder and tries with all the strength she has.

“Take me to Lord Prime.” 

“Wild Cat-”

“Scorpia, it’s urgent.” Catra’s voice is so hoarse.

Scorpia nods and doesn’t say a word on the way to Lord Primes sanctum. Once at the double doors Catra tells Scorpia to put her down, Scorpia protests but Catra just tries to roll out of her arms instead of arguing so Scorpia slowly helps Catra to her feet. The doors are a polished silver with bright green trim. She looks at her reflection and realizes why Scorpia looks so tense. Catra at some point was bleeding from her nose and ears. She tries to wipe as much blood off her face. She turns to Scorpia.

“Hey, do me a favor?” Catra’s voice is raspier than usual.

“Anything Wild Cat.” Scorpia just looks so happy to be able to help.

“Take Lonnie and Rogelio, and leave. Take the kids too. I don’t know how long it will be safe here. But you guys need to leave.” Catra coughs in her hand and sees blood. “Fuck…”

“Wild Cat, I’m not leaving you.” Scorpia says sternly. 

“Scorp, I have to fix this. Adora was right, what they are doing is wrong. And if I have a chance of getting rid of one of them by pinning them against each other. It gives everyone a chance.” Catra leans on the door frame, “Please Scropia, do this for me.”

Scorpia has tears in her eyes. “I’m going to come back for you.”

Catra chuckles. “I doubt there will be any of me left, my fate is set.” Catra puts her hand on Scorpia’s shoulder. “Yours isn’t. So go live, for me.” Scorpia pulls Catra into a bone crushing hug. And for the first time Catra hugs her back. “Now get out of here big girl.” Scorpia walks away, tears streaming down her face. Catra turns to the door, shaking her nerves away.

She pushes the doors open and walks into pure darkness. The doors close behind her and green crystals around a giant throne light up and standing in front of it is Lord Prime. In his white robes with grey and green trim. 

“What do I owe the pleasure of you barging into my sanctum” His deep cool voice travels like it is swarming her mind.

“I have information for you.” She says bowing her head. 

“You do now, do you?” He starts walking towards her slowly.

“Yes, Weaver went out of her way to make sure you didn’t know she used resources to retrieve Adora.” Catra raises her head to look up at him, she can’t see a face behind his hood.

“Is there more?”

“She is trying to find a way to get power for herself, she found a way. I’ll tell you what it is, but I need to know that Adora will be safe.” She is trying with everything inside her to stand right now. Her limbs feel so heavy.

“Hm, as tempting as that is,” He is right in front of Catra now. “I feel like there is more to this. Does Adora have anything to do with this power?”

Catra’s pupils shrink, she starts to breathe harder. When Lady Weaver was in her mind, she snuck into hers by accident and what she saw definitely showed that Adora was the main source of her power.

“No, she has nothing to do with anything.”

“Lies.” He huffs. “Adora means something to you, that’s why you want her safety.”

“No. She means nothing.” Catra glares up at this tall fucking snake.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” His hands come up to wrap around her head, his hands were huge. Catra tries to pull away but there are hands all over her keeping her in place. She glances around and sees tall figures in white robes walking out of the shadows. They are holding her in place. Lord Prime pulls his hands away from her head and pulls his hood back to show long white hair, moving around like snakes. 

“Child, I have been around for centuries. I am every Lord Prime there has been, and I will continue to be.” one of his tendrils of hair sneaks its way to Catra, she tries to pull away. She doesn’t even budge, the tendril sneaks up her collarbone to her neck and around to the back. She feels a pinch on the back of her neck. And everything goes black, then all her memories flash before her. And it stops at the one with Adora and Lady Weaver. 

Then she is back in the room with Lord Prime. Everything has a green hue to it. He pulls away from her and she sees his eyes are glowing green. Not two. But four, he has to normal ones and his right one has two smaller eyes. One on top and the other on the bottom of it. Catra mentally shivers, but her body doesn’t. She actually can’t move her body at all. 

“Go get me Adora, bind Lady Weaver and place her in a cell. I will deal with her later.” He commands. Catra was about to tell his creepy ass to fuck off, but she couldn’t, her body nodded and spoke for her.

“Yes, Lord Prime.” She turned and walked out the double doors on her way to Lady Weaver’s study. Catra couldn’t stop her body or speak.

Fuck.

Catra watches herself blast the door down, blast Lady Weaver binding her and grabbing Adora. She wants to answer all Adora’s questions, but she can’t. She just watches herself take Adora to Prime. She can’t do anything when Lord Prime tells Adora he knows what she is, and his tall creepy minions show up and restrain her as he grabs onto her head. Adora Lets out a guttural scream, her whole-body tenses she could see every muscle flex and spasm. And she could do nothing. 

Not one thing.

***

Adora knew something was very wrong, and it’s not the fact Catra’s eyes are fucking green. Her whole demeanor seems stiff and so unlike the smooth and laid-back person she knew for so long.

“Show me the light?” Adora says a few octaves high.

“Yes, he will show you.”

They reach double doors with polished silver and bright green designs on it. The doors open and Lord Prime is in the center of the room. Catra takes her to him and out of nowhere there are hands all over her keeping her in place.

“Adora, finally.” He smiles sinisterly at her. "An in the flesh First One’s descendant.”

“Uh, sorry. I think you have the wrong person.”

“No, I know your kind. I have been hunting you for centuries.”

Adora looks confused, then it hits her.

“Uh, so let me get this straight, you are like. Lord Prime, from like the stories and what not. Or am I just really confused.” Adora looks thoroughly confused. 

“The very one.” He places his hands on her head. “And you have something I need.”

That’s when Adora’s whole body felt like it was being hit like lightning, her entire body tensed and her muscles were spasming, she knew she was screaming. Because her mouth was open, and her throat was sore.

She could see him going through her memories, she stopped screaming and tried to focus on her breathing. She needed to follow him through her memories to see what he was trying to do. He was going down old memories. They were of her when she was around four or five. The memories stopped. She was in a particular one. It was so blurry, she was trying to remember it so she could see what it was. Either that or have him rip it out of her, and right now with her body in pain the last thing she needed was her literal brain to bleed out.

It was when she was five, her father took her and Adam to the forest, the memory skipped, and they were in front of a giant crystal. It was humming, she stood right in front of it.

“They say only one who can wield great power can touch it, it holds the power of a million suns. Enough to heal the lands and grow life in the deserts of the Crimson Waste.” Her father said, her heart ached. She forgot how his voice sounded years ago. It was like home to her ears.

“One day I’m going to go to the Crimson Waste and beat bad guys up!” Adam says pulling his fists up and pretending to fight an imaginary person. 

“Whatever your heart desires son.” Randor laughs. Adora can feel tears stream down her cheeks.

The memory stops, and it rewinds to show a First Ones temple. Next thing she knows she is on the ground, heaving air into her lungs she can taste the fresh blood dripping from her nose.

“Now that I have what I want,” He walks over to the wall behind his throne, pressed on a stone and a pathway appears. “Catra and I will be heading out. My brothers will take good care of you.” his lip twitches into a smile and his eyes glow bright, as do the ten men in the room with her and they all charge towards her. She shifts her feet into a more grounding stance, takes a deep breath. The first two were easy to knock out, two grabbed onto her and a third stood in front of her, his eyes glowing bright, he pulled his dagger out of its sheath. He put it to her side and slowly pushed it into her. Adora gritted her teeth trying to breathe through it.

“I’ll make sure she watches, as you die.” Lord Prime’s voice flows through this man's mouth as though it is him.

“Not a chance, fucker.” Someone says.

The dagger was half an inch into Adora’s side when a sword was thrown at his neck knocking him to the ground, blood splattering everywhere, the guys holding Adora let go to grab their daggers. She dives and grabs onto the hilt and spins it in her hand. She looks at the sword. It looks familiar. That is Mara’s. She turns to the doorway and there is Mara and Adam. She doesn’t have time for pleasantries because the two men with daggers are at her. She dodges them, stabbing one in the chest, the other slipped on blood falling to his knees. She drove the sword down his neck feeling his collar bone crack. She turned around and it looked like they got the rest pretty quick. She looks over at Mara and Adam. Adam sheaths his sword and marches up to Adora and embraces her tight.

“I thought I lost you again.” His voice is thick with emotion. 

“Never. I would never let that happen.”

“I really get it, I missed you too squirt but we gotta go.” Mara says, placing a hand on Adora’s shoulder.

“I can’t go with you.” Adora pulls away and hands Mara her sword.

“You just said-”

“I know, But I can’t leave Catra. Not again, I’m not leaving her.” She says sternly. “There is a safehouse in Theymor. I’ll meet you there. You need to get Lonnie and Rogelio out of here.” Adora heads to the back door.

“How do we know who they are?” Mara asks.

“Look for a tall white-haired woman, fucking giant, built like a mountain. Tell her you know Catra and are here to help them. I’m sure she will help you.” Adora is at the opening of the pathway.

“May the Guide light your path with grace, sister.” Adam says.

“You as well brother.” They nod at each other and head their separate ways.

Adora is running with every bit of energy she has in her body, her body hurts. She is untying her silk belt and retying it to put pressure on her wound. She doesn’t know how much more blood she can lose before she is done for.

She is well into the path when she can hear footsteps, she picks up the speed. The path opens up to the courtyard somehow. And Catra is standing in the middle of it facing Adora.

“Hello, Adora.” It’s Catra’s voice, but it is not her words. And it boils Adora’s blood.

“Catra, you can fight it.” Adora walks cautiously towards Catra. “This isn’t you.”

“How sweet. Fighting to keep your Catra.” a chuckle. “She isn’t there.”

“We can get through this. Together.” Adora is so close to her now, she can see Catra’s freckles.

“No, we can’t.” Catra pulls her wrists down and four hooked blades shoot out of her bracers. “Won’t this be poetic, sad one of you will die tonight.” Lord Prime’s voice echoes off the walls. Adora almost misses Catra shifting to attack, Adora barely dodges, stumbling a little. When she gets her footing Catra sends a blast of energy her way, Adora tries to block it forgetting she has the bind on her neck. She tries to turn her body so it would miss her, it hits her shoulder and spins smashing into the wall. Her back slides down a little on the stone wall, she spits a mouthful of blood onto the ground. She pushes herself upright again. 

“Catra, please. I don’t want to hurt you.” Adora is pleading.

Catra walks up to Adora, she is inches away from her. She raises her hand to Adora’s cheek and Adora leans into it. Catra’s eyes flicker and Adora could see the gold and sapphire for a split second and then Catra throws her head back laughing hysterically, just as fast as it happened is stopped. She looked back at Adora, head tilted to the side with a blank face she says.

“Your Catra,” she slides the curved blades that look like claws down Adora’s cheek, not deep enough to cause serious injury, just enough to bleed. “Is gone.”

Adora grabs a firm hold onto Catra’s tunic and kicks her legs out from under her, using all the power in her arm to slam her into the ground. Once the dust settles Catra’s eyes are closed, Adora leans in and says voice thick with emotion.

“You never listened to anybody, ever in your life.” she swallows the thick lump in her throat.”are you really going to start now”

“You’re a dumbass.” Catra opens her eyes, and they are gold and sapphire. Then they flicker back and forth.

“Catra?” Adora has tears in her eyes.

“It’s hard to take control,” She grits her teeth. “Not much time.” She hits her bracer onto the ground and the blades retract. Catra grabs a hold of the gem on the bind around Adora’s neck and builds up energy and shatters it, making the bind fall off. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes go green again, Adora hears the blades from Catra’s bracers, knowing what’s going to happen she uses energy bursts to push herself away, Catra narrowly missing Adora’s neck. 

Adora is on her feet, shaking her hands. It’s been a while since she could use the Guide.

“Catra I’m not leaving without you!” Adora yells. Frustrated. 

“Lord Prime will win, and he will be all powerful and take over all of Etheria.” Catra stands. Then charges at Adora. 

Catra goes to swing but Adora grabs her wrist and spins her around grabbing her other wrist. Catra’s wrists are pinned to her sides. Adora uses her body to push Catra’s front against the wall.

“I’m not leaving you behind.” Adora whispers.

“My neck,” Catra breathes. “I can see in his mind- ah!” Catra stiffins. “The gem, you need to take it out.”

Adora looks at the nape of Catra’s neck and there it is, a little green gem that looks like it embedded itself into her skin. Adora pulls her head away to get a better look. That’s when Catra threw her head back and Adora felt and heard the sound of her nose breaking. She stumbles back a little and Catra turns around to shove Adora, running away. Adora tries to shake it off as much as she can, she presses on her nose and feels and hears another crack as she resets her nose, eyes blurry with tears and barely breathing Adora chases after Catra.

Adora knows where they are heading once her eyes clear up and the throbbing in her face lets her focus. They are heading to their tower. Running up the broken stairs, Adora knows these steps like the back of her hand.

Adora hears a blast and stone breaking. When she gets to the top the whole window is blown out. And Catra is at the edge, she is staring out to the ocean.

“She took so many from me.” Catra says. “And now he has taken the rest.” Catra tenses like she is in pain.

Adora slowly walks in. “Took what?” Adora is almost to Catra.

“Memories of you… I can’t remember.” Catra sobs. “The only one I have is eating a stupid peach with you up here.”

Adora’s face softens. “Catra, we can fix this.” Adora put a hand on her shoulder. “Let me take you away from here.” Adora is right behind Catra. 

Catra turns around. Gold and sapphire. “You promise?”

“I promise.” Adora smiles.

“Ah!” Catra grabs the back of her neck, shutting her eyes tight. 

“Catra!”

Catra stands up straight, faces Adora and opens her eyes. They are glowing green. 

“I told you one of you will die.” Catra kicks Adora in the chest but Adora stays rooted to the spot, Catra uses her to push herself off the ledge. And is falling to the jagged rocks and crashing waves below. Adora didn’t even think, she Jumped after her, her heavy weight working in her favor as her body collided with Catras. She places her hand over the gem and pools energy directly in it, and it shatters. Catra comes to and holds onto Adora tight. They are five feet away from the jagged rocks, when everything goes black. All Adora thought at that moment was.

Catra is holding me back.

Chapter Text

All Adora can remember before coming to is the feeling like she was going through a whirlpool, every nerve in her body felt like it was being pulled in different directions. She shut her eyes tight and held her breath to try and center herself. Then a splash. She suddenly was immersed in water, feeling the sting of sea water as she opened her eyes. Trying to figure out which way was up, was getting more difficult. But then she sees a light and starts swimming towards it. She remembers trying to swim with Catra clinging to her still -more like Catra almost drowning them both- once they broke the surface of the water gasping for air, Adora wipes her eyes trying to clear them of salt water. Looking for the source of the light she looked to the sky, there was a full moon, and it was shining bright. They made it to the shore, Catra being carried bridal style in Adora’s arms. Until Adora’s body chose to fail her, she could barely feel her limbs, she was so tired. She fell to her knees, laying Catra down as gently as she could before falling to her side passing out. 

She opens her eyes, it’s dawn, she doesn’t know how long she has been out. Catra… Catra! She tries to sit up quickly, but with the adrenaline gone Adora feels the full effects of everything her body has been through. She can hear the world around her slowly come to life. Sitting up slowly she kneels sitting on her haunches. Catra is in front of her. She is curled into a ball in the wet sand. 

“Catra?” Adora’s voice is hoarse, she tries to clear it. “Hey, Catra. Are you okay?” there is worry in Adora’s voice.

“I can still hear him, her, everyone.” Catra’s hands go to her hair digging her nails into her scalp. “It needs to stop! I can’t take it!” 

“Woah! Stop! Stop Catra, you're going to hurt yourself!” Adroa tries to pry Catra’s hands away from her head.

“Make it stop! Make it stop!” Catra has tears pouring down her cheeks. 

Adora pulls Catra to her chest and holds her close. Catra grabs onto the front of Adora’s tunic, holding on so tight her knuckles are white, she is whimpering. Adora runs her fingers through Catra’s hair to try and calm her. Slowly Catra loosens her grip on Adora, she pulls away slightly to look up at her.

“Who are you?” Adora’s eyes widened at that.

“Catra-” Adora couldn’t finish her question, because Catra’s eyes slowly lost their colour. They looked empty, all emotion on her face dropped. Her nose began to bleed. “Catra?!” Adora was panicking. She cupped Catra’s face, that’s when she felt something wet on the side of Catra’s head, right under her ear. She pushed Catra’s hair aside to see her ear was bleeding. She hurried and checked her other ear. Adora was panicking, nose and ears bleeding means whoever was in her mind wasn’t careful and just tore through her memories carelessly. Her mind was basically slowly collapsing on itself. And there was nothing Adora could do to fix it. Adora’s vision slowly started to blur. 

“Catra…” Adora chokes, running her thumb across Catra’s freckled cheek. 

Catra blinks, tilting her head slightly. “I don’t know you, but I know I need to say sorry. I don’t know why, but I know deep down I need to apologize to you.” Her eyes flutter close. “I’m getting tired…” Catra’s voice fades. 

“Please… I can’t lose you… Catra I need you.” Adora’s voice is thick with emotion. She watches Catra’s breathing slow. She lays Catra down, so she is laying on Adora’s lap.

“Idiot…” Catra lets out before her breathing completely stops. Adora looks up to the sky sobbing. 

Her chest felt so tight, like all her heart strings were straining ready to snap. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t hear, and her entire body was numb. She looked back down at Catra’s lifeless body and closed her eyes, she let her memories of them when they were younger flood her mind. 

Times at Jess’s Home for Lost Children.

When they ended up at the Horde. 

Training together. 

Laughing together. 

Their first kiss. 

It was far from perfect, but it was perfect for Adora. She remembers her moving in too fast, their teeth hitting, and Catra pulled away giggling rubbing her teeth. She told Adora she was an idiot and went in and their noses got in the way, and it was Adora’s turn to giggle. But they didn’t pull away from the kiss that time, Catra slid her hands from Adora’s shoulder up to the nape of her neck lightly scratching her nails into Adora’s skin pulling her closer. The sudden pull made Adora fly her hands to Catra’s waist. She remembers not wanting to hold too tight, she wanted Catra comfortable. She smiles sadly at that memory. 

Other memories start to flood her mind, like the way Catra’s nose crinkles when she truly laughs, the way she likes to nap in small warm cozy spots in random places. The way her hair always matted a certain way when she woke up, her light snoring when she was sleeping

Suddenly Adora felt warmth on her body. Like the glow of the sun, it must be rising and shining its warm rays onto her. She opened her eyes to see the sun was in fact rising, it reminded her of Catra’s eyes. That is what she will miss the most, the golden sun in one eye and the Blue of the sea in the other. Adora hunched her shoulders over, letting her arms drop, she looked down at Catra. Bending down she cupped Catra’s cheek and pressed their foreheads together, closing her eyes.

“Please come back…” Adora feels her body buzz with energy, she feels like she is going to burst. Her chest feels hot, and it travels to her limbs. “Come back to me…” She feels something like a chill run through her whole body, like a burst of ice ran through her. Pulling away from Catra she sits back on her haunches and looks to the sun, watching it slowly rise higher into the sky. 

She feels shifting and then fingers running across the cuts on her cheek. She snaps her head to look down at Catra. Her eyes are barely open, but Adora’s breathing fails her when she sees a golden eye slightly open looking up at her, even if it is a sliver. 

“I got you good, didn’t I?” Catra gives her a weak smirk.

“C-Catra?..” Adora whispers, scared if she says her name any louder, she’ll disappear.

“Hey, Adora.” A full smirk and eyes open revealing the perfect gold and sapphire that Adora will always have seared into her memories... Adora pulls Catra up and into a hug, feeling her breathing, feeling her heartbeat and Catra wraps her arms around Adora’s neck burrowing her face into the crook of her neck. “You stink.” Adora can feel Catra scrunch up her nose in disgust. All Adora can do is laugh while she has tears streaming down her face.

“I thought you died…” Adora’s voice cracks at the end.

“I think I did, I saw some stuff… I’ll tell you about it later.” Catra pulls away with a disgusted look on her face. “But right now, we need to get you in a bath, you are fucking nasty.”

“I’ve been in a cell for days, in the same clothes. So sorry that I didn’t have time to wash.” Adora rolls her eyes.

“It’s been one day, Adora.” Adora frowns.

“No, I’ve been in the cells for days.” 

“No, the bind that was on your neck made you think that. They alter time in the cells.” Catra winces. “Sorry about that…”

“Well, you can make it up to me by buying me food and new clothes.” Adora smiles at her.

“Whatever dumbass.” Catra shoves Adora, and Adora winces. Catra looks down at the stab wound on Adora’s side. “What the fuck, you can bring me back to life and you can’t even heal yourself?” Catra raises an eyebrow.

“Listen, I don’t even know how I did that.” Adora shrugs, placing her hand on the wound. “We need to get to the safe house. That is if you will come with me?” Adora gives a worried look.

“I think feeding, bathing then clothing you is as far as I go.” Catra pulls away and sits back pulling her knees to her chest. “I’ve done so much bad shit.”

“So have I, come on. It will be like a fresh start.” Adora places her hand on her shoulder and squeezes lightly. Catra shakes her hand off, making Adora’s arm fall to her side, and Adora’s smile with it.

“I don’t think that is a good idea.” Catra goes to stand up, lending her hand to Adora. “Now come on we need to hurry and do this; they will be looking for us. You can beg for me to go with you later.” Catra grins.

“I wasn’t going to beg!” Adora scoffs, taking Catra’s hand grunting as she stands. “But I won’t stop bugging you.” Adora smirks.

“Don’t make me shove you to the ground and watch as you struggle to stand.” Catra says over her shoulder walking up the beach heading to a small town. 

Adora is limping after Catra. “Hey! I can’t go that fast!” 

“Are you going to be this needy the whole time?” Catra huffs.

“You know this is a weird way of saying ‘Thank you Adora for saving my life.’ also how are we going to get me clothes looking like this without getting seen and reported?” Adora made a great point, someone who is dirty and bloody walking in town after there was a breach in the castle. That was going to get them caught.

“I just need to get you to those rocks, and I’ll be right back.” Catra points to some large rocks right by a walkway to the road. “I’ll go grab something until we can get into town.” Catra looks Adora up and down. “You are a little bigger than last time I saw you.” Catra points at a large rock. “Sit, I’ll be right back.” And before Adora could get a word out she was gone. 

Adora limps towards the closest rock leaning on it. She pulls her hand away from the cut to see how bad it was. There was blood all the way down the left side of her, her whole pant leg was soaked she could feel it in her boot. She looked down at her right hand. It was covered in dry and wet blood, shaking and pale. She pressed her back into the rock sliding down, her legs were getting weak, she couldn't feel anything her whole body felt numb. Her vision started to blur, and she felt cold and thirsty.

All of a sudden, she is sitting on the ground, she tries to tighten the silk belt around her, but her arms are too tired. She adds as much pressure as she can on the wound. Her vision goes in and out. Then everything goes black.

She feels a tug and a muffled voice. She slowly opens her eyes. She is being helped up to her feet by a small figure, they lean her onto her side against the rock once she is standing. She feels something being wrapped around her. The figure pushes her against the rock, so her back is against it. They tug onto the fabric around her. 

SLAP!

Adora groans and looks up to see gold and sapphire eyes looking up at her. Catra. She shifts her eyes to Catra’s lips. She is saying something to her, Adora frowns. Shaking her head, she tries to focus on the words.

“-ink you can get on a horse?” Catra asks.

“What?” Adora’s head feels light.

“Do you think you can get on a horse?” Adora nods. “Alright, I just need you to stay with me for a little bit. The healer is a mile or so away.” 

“Water.” Adora breathes. “Thirsty.” 

Catra pulls something over Adora’s head. Adora finally looks down at what she is being wrapped in. it’s a black cloak, Catra just put her hood up. Catra looks worried.

“There is some on the horse, we need to hurry though. I didn’t exactly ask for the cloaks and horse.” Adora chuckles. Catra lets a smile slip across her face. She lifts Adora’s right arm and puts it around her shoulder and puts her left hand on Adora’s left hip steering her towards the walkway. Adora really tried her best not to put her weight onto Catra, which got her ass chewed out by Catra who was insulted. Catra may be smaller and not as built as Adora, but she was way stronger than what she looked. 

When they reached the horse Catra slowly detached herself from Adora to pull out the small leather canister with water out, when she turned around to hand it to Adora, Adora’s eyes fluttered, and she swayed before falling forward towards Catra. Catra quickly grabbed onto the front of Adora to steady her, Adora weakly had her hands gripping onto Catra’s biceps. Their faces an inch away from each other. Adora could feel the small puffs of breath from Catra. Was Catra blushing, Adora can’t tell. She straightens and apologizes. Catra uncorks the leather canister and puts it to Adora’s mouth, Adora’s shaky hand goes up to it as she chugs the water. When she is done Catra puts it back and guides Adora to the horse.

“You are such a mess,” Catra wipes the dribbles of water on Adora’s chin. “Now, can you get on the horse?” Adora takes a big breath and nods. “I’ll help you up, once you push up, I’ll push you up as much as I can.”

Adora stands facing the horse, she lifts her foot up into the stirrup and clasps her hands onto the seat, she pushes as hard as she could off the ground to hoist herself up. She got halfway before her left side gave out and she slipped. She never fell back like she thought was sure to happen. Instead, she felt hands on her back side and thigh pushing.

“If you could fucking at least try that would be helpful.” Catra grunts. 

Adora pulls as much as she can, with a final pull gritting her teeth from pain she grunts loudly and swings her leg over and is finally on the horse.Catra pulls her foot out of the stirrup and gracefully is on the horse.

“Show off.” Adora mumbles, clutching at her side. 

Catra snickers, unhooking a whip from the saddle and unfurls it, wrapping it behind her and Adora then tying it in front of herself.

“What you feel me up and then tie me up, buy me a drink first, Catra.” Adora wheezes out with humor.

“You wish, Princess.” Catra snorts.

Adora blushes at the old nickname. She is feeling very tired. She lays her head on Catra’s shoulder as they start to move onto the road. Catra says nothing about it, so Adora stays, and tries testing her luck. She slides her right arm to wrap around the front of Catra to steady herself, while the other puts pressure on her wound. Catra stiffens then relaxes and melts into Adora. They ride in silence. Adora breathes in the scent of Catra. She really missed being this close to the woman.

“Are you smelling me?” Adora can hear the smirk in her voice.

“No. Having a hard time breathing.” Adora lies through her teeth.

“Just a while longer, it shouldn’t be long.” Catra’s tone changes to worry, Adora feels kind of bad for that. But not enough to admit she just got caught smelling Catra. 

Adora is in and out of consciousness, her head is buried into Catra’s shoulder. She can hear the birds singing and the sound of wagons passing by and livestock from passing farms. Adora doesn’t know how long they have been on the road. She hears Catra say something, but she can’t make sense of it. And Adora says something. All she hears is Catra swear, and she feels the whip tighten around her then the horse moving faster. Adroa then blacks out. 

Adora hears distant voices, she feels hot and sweaty. She is laying in a bed she knows that much. Her lips are chapped, and she tries to say something, but her throat is dry, she slowly opens her eyes. It’s bright so she tries to blink them open to get used to it. She looks around. She is in a room, there is a water basin in the corner, a nightstand next to the bed she is in and a desk by a window. She looks outside and all she sees is trees like they are deep into the woods. She tries to sit up but then a sharp pain in her side prevents that, she hisses hand flying to the spot, she feels something there, she pulls down the blanket. She is wearing new clothes and she looks like she has been cleaned up. Curious as to why her wound feels weird, she pulls up her shirt and sees what looks like a mixture of herbs and moss plastered onto her wound. She sighs, pulling her shirt down. That’s when she notices her knuckles are bandaged and the same herb and moss mixture is randomly on her body, she touches the left side of her face and sure enough it is on her face where Catra cut her.

The door bursts open and a short old lady scurries in and places rags and a bowl of water and a glass with purple liquid in it onto the nightstand. She then turns and goes to shut the door. The lady was wearing a pink dress, her hair was white and wild and on her face were these big glass disks that made her eyes comically large. She waddles over to the side of the bed looking at Adora, who looks so confused right now.

“Hello dearie, it’s about time you woke up.” She dips one of the rags into the water and rings it out then placing it on Adora’s forehead. “C’yra has been so fidgety, such a stressed cat.” Adora doesn't know who she is talking about. “Had to sneak her a sleeping elixir. Shhh don’t tell her. She is a grouchy one.” She picks up the glass with the purple liquid. “Now time for yours. Need you to get rest to heal properly.” Adora eyes the glass. “Oh, come on dearie. No need to be fussy now. Now drink or I will get my broom.” She uses her free hand to pull Adora forward a little so she can drink the liquid. 

“Where… Catra?” Adora’s voice is so hoarse.

“C’yra is in the other room, if I get her will you take this.” Adora nods. The lady waddled out of the room, there were some voices then she could hear Catra yelling. The door to the room bursts open again and this time it’s Catra, she was cleaned up and wearing new clothes too. She was in a black leather long sleeve shirt with black leather pants and boots, her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She was breathtaking, Adora looked into her eyes, the comfort of the gold and sapphire.

“Hey, Adora.” A smirk. “You look like shit.”

“You look amazing.” Adora flushes realizing she just said that out loud.

“I figured you hit your head pretty hard.” Catra walks up to the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?” Adora couldn’t tell if Catra was blushing, or she was seeing things.

“Like how you described I look.” Adora’s starts coughing. Catra picks up the glass of liquid and helps Adora sit up. Rubbing her back as Adora finishes coughing.

“Hey, drink this, it will help with everything.” Catra puts the glass to Adora’s mouth and Adora complies and starts drinking the liquid, it tasted like berries. “There you go, now you need to rest. You have a fever.” Catra puts the glass back onto the nightstand and goes to stand up.

“Wait,” Adora grabs onto her wrist holding Catra in place. All Adora wants is for Catra to stay with her, but she doesn’t want to push her luck. “Thank you.” She decides against asking Catra to stay and keep her company. Not wanting to make it weirder than it already is. The corner of Catra’s mouth tilts up. 

“You got me, and I got you.” She simply says. Adora’s face softens letting go of Catra’s wrist.

“I’ll be right outside, just let me know if you need anything. I think Madame Razz is getting you water right now.” Catra stands walking to the door, she looks over her shoulder at Adora. “And it should be me thanking you.”

“I would do anything for you, Catra.” Adora smiles. “Just know that.”

“Rest. I’ll check up on you later.” Catra almost whispers leaving the room, keeping the door ajar incase Adora needed anything.

Adora lays back and sighs. She can feel the elixir slowly cover her body in a relaxing warm blanket. She slowly feels herself slip into a deep sleep. For now, they were both safe, and alive. She let the peace of it lull her to sleep.

Chapter Text

Adora woke up, she was still in the cabin. She looked around and she couldn’t hear or sense anyone around her. Her powers weren’t working still, she figured it was probably from using too much energy on Catra. 

Catra.

Adora lifted the blanket off her, she sat up surprised she did it without difficulty. Looking down at her hands she saw they didn’t have any bruising or scratches. Pulling up her shirt to inspect her stab wound, it wasn’t there. This all felt off, she felt a chill run through the room, like a light breeze. She placed her feet down on the cold wooden floor. Slowly standing just to make sure she had the strength, she did. Her boots were by the chair, she slipped them on and went to the door opening it.

“Catra?” No response. It was eerily quiet. “Razz? Catra?” Adora slowly walked into the front of the cabin.

There was a glow creeping through the front door, it felt warm, familiar and safe. Adora slowly made her way to it, as she looked around the cabin to look out for anyone. The cabin was definitely empty, there was only one room and living area with a giant fireplace in the corner of the cabin that had a fire roaring. 

 Adora made it in front of the door, she placed her hand on the doorknob, hesitating for a minute. She felt a jolt and then she felt a familiar feeling of power course through her. It was faint but it was enough for her to want more, and she opened the door. She was immediately blinded for a few seconds by a bright light. Then she was in the middle of the whispering woods. She felt like she had been here before, but she just couldn’t place it. She heard footsteps, hiding behind a tree not knowing if it was friend or foe. She waited until they came into view.

She saw two children and a man walking down a small path -if you could call it that it was so narrow- she could barely hear them, so changing it she got closer to get a better look and so she could hear them better.

Once she was in ear shot, she could hear them, the man spoke.

“Now stop shoving your sister.” Adora froze at the voice she heard, a voice she thought she would never hear again, one that she slowly had fade from her memories. “Because, if she puts you in another headlock, I won’t scold her for it.” there was amusement in the man’s voice.

“Dad, she said I smelt like a fart!” The boy said.

“Because you do!” The girl giggled.

Adora was glued to her spot, she couldn’t believe it. Right in front of her was her father and child versions of herself and brother. The same ages as in the memory Lord Prime pried from her. Her father just laughed and encouraged them to keep moving. They were almost out of sight when Adora pulled herself out of her shocked state. She ran after them until she was a few feet from her father, he was right there, just a few more steps and she could touch him. Not even thinking she took those few long quick strides and went to place her hand on his shoulder.

“Father-” her hand flew right through him, his shoulder disappeared like a hand through mist, he didn’t even notice her. His shoulder slowly reappeared. She inspected her hand, and it didn’t have anything on it. “Father?” no response. Her eyes prickled with tears, burning with emotion. She swallowed the lump in her throat and continued to follow them into the woods.

Younger her and Adam continued to bicker back and forth while she walked beside her father, watching him watch them with an amused and soft loving look on his face. She wanted to soak in his face, she missed him dearly. She wanted to memorize his face so she couldn’t forget it. From the little scar he had on his top lip, where his mustache could never fully grow. How when he smiled there was a glint in his steel grey eyes. And the beginning of greying in his brown hair. She missed her father so much, she felt the ache in her heart, like someone was gripping onto it. 

The trees started to thin out and a building started to come into view. She remembers it, it’s a First Ones temple. It’s the one from the memory Lord Prime was poking around at. Her younger self and brother ran up to the temple’s entrance.

“Can I do it father?!” younger Adora was practically bouncing on her heals.

“No! I want to do it!” Adam yelled.

“How about you both say it at the same time?” Their father smiled wide at them. “Now, on three. One. Two. Three!”

“Eternia!” they both said excitedly.

The entrance was made of crystals of all colours sticking out of the ground, once the twins said the words two large crystals retracted and made a doorway for them to enter the temple. Adora followed them in. Her younger self and brother ran up to a giant crystal sitting at the center, it was covered in different colours unlike the smaller ones surrounding it on the walls. It had sort of a moat around it with polished stone for a walkway over it. The children stopped right in front of the walkway. Her father stood behind them. Adam looks like he is losing interest with the giant crystal, but younger Adora is staring at it head tilt in thought. She slowly walks up to it hand outstretched like she is about to touch it, but she knows she doesn’t touch it because her father warned her many times it was dangerous. Adora now even felt it’s pull, she stood next to her younger self staring at it. She heard the humming and energy flowing off it. It was intense.

“They say only one who can wield great power can touch it, it holds the power of a million suns. Enough to heal the lands and grow life in the deserts of the Crimson Waste.” Her father said.

“One day I’m going to go to the Crimson Waste and beat bad guys up!” Adam says pulling his fists up and pretending to fight an imaginary person. 

“Whatever your heart desires son.” her father laughs.

“Father, can I go find Serenia now?” Adam stops his play fighting.

“Of course. Adora, how about you go ahead and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble?” Her father quirks an eyebrow.

“Ugh, why can’t he just not get into trouble?” Adora frowns, crossing her arms.

“I will make sure you get an extra slice of pie when we get home.” he smiles.

“You got a deal!” Younger Adora perks up running after her brother. 

Randor steps up to the crystal pillar, he is standing right next to her. He raises his hand up to the crystal, but it shoots a bolt of energy out and he pulls his hand away hissing. 

“I knew the day you were born that you were meant for more.” Randor says almost a whisper. He takes a deep breath in. “Adora, I know you can hear me.” Adora freezes, tearing her eyes off the crystal to her father. He continues. “At some point I’m going to insert this into your memories. My own memory of this day, to tell you this.” He steps back from the crystal, “You can get so close to it, every time I think it will defend itself from you. But it almost glows, like it wants you to come to it. Adora I am pretty sure the spirit of She-Ra is within you. You already hold the power of The Guide at a young age. And the crystal speaks to you. You will do great things; you will save our people. I have no doubt. And no matter what, I am proud of you.” he scratches at his beard. “If you have the sword and touch the crystal, you will absorb the energy in it and be supercharged. But only do it when it is absolutely a last resort. Because it will be painful. You are the warrior savior of our people. No matter what, Lord Prime must not win.” Adora’s vision blurs, she wipes at her eyes. The tears don’t stop so she just lets them flow. “Don’t let him get to the crystal.” Adora swallows, nodding.

“I won’t, I promise.” She looks back at the crystal, its humming and glowing. It starts to glow brighter and brighter; she turns her head to get a look at her father again and he begins to fade, the tears fall in streams now.

“I love you, and I miss you.” She chokes out.

“I love you so much.” His voice is like a whisper as the light engulfs them both.

Adora’s eyes open, she is back in the room in the cabin. She feels the tears fall down the side of her face. Sniffling, she sits up. There is a jerk of movement next to her, she yelps. 

“Ah! What the fuck!” Catra almost falls out of the chair she is sitting in that is at the side of the bed, it looked like she was sleeping.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.” Adora blushes.

“Shut up, how are you feeling?” Catra sits up, pulling the chair closer to the bed and examining Adora. “Are you crying?”

“Nightmare.” Adora lies.

“Want to talk about it?” Catra glances at her.

“Not really. Did you sleep in that chair?” Adora asks, adjusting on the bed so her legs are dangling over the edge. She is face to face with Catra.

“Uh, yeah you were making noises in your sleep, and I know how you don’t like to sleep alone.” Catra clears her throat. “So, I came in here to keep you company.”

“It’s almost like,” Adora gives her a shit eating grin. “you like me or something?” That earns Adora a shove.

“What?! No! Ugh, I knew I should have let you bleed out.” Catra rolls her eyes, slumping back into the chair with a slight blush on her cheeks. “How is your wound?” Catra’s eyes glance down to Adora’s side.

Adora lifts her shirt up to check, there is an angry red scar. She runs her finger across it, it feels hot to the touch. “Surprisingly well. That elixir worked.” Adora looks up to see Catra’s head turned to look at the nightstand. Face beet red. 

“Glad to hear. Do you think you can stand up and move around?” Catra hesitantly looks back in Adora’s direction. 

“I think so,” Adora stretches her arms above her head, feeling all her sore muscles ache. She then steadies her hands on the edge of the bed before hopping off of it. Catra jumps out of the chair, hands out ready to catch Adora. Adora raises an eyebrow up at her. “Were you going to catch me?” Adora has a smug look on her face. “You do like me. How embarrassing.” Adora lets a giggle slip. Catra glares daggers at Adora, dropping her hands down to her side.

“Looks like you are fine,” She heads to the door. “There are clothes and a cloak on the desk for you to change into,” opening the door she pauses to look over her shoulder at Adora. “I’m glad you are okay.” She smiled softly at Adora before shutting the door behind her.

Adora paced around the room, half from overthinking her dream and the other to get the muscles in her legs to loosen up. Was it a dream or a memory, she remembers where the temple is. But one thing she knew is she needed to talk to Adam, he had her father's sword, and it was key to seeking the power. She needs to figure out a plan to persuade her brother to let her borrow his sword. She needs to get to that crystal; she needs to end Lord Prime and his heinous treatment of The First Ones and The Guide users. Stopping in her tracks she made her decision that she will get the sword and head to the temple and fulfill her purpose.

Adora put on the new clothes, a deep red long sleeve leather tunic with dark grey leather pants and a black cloak. Unlike the one she was given in the Crimson waste, this one fit perfectly. She liked to think Catra knew her like that even after all this time, it gave her comfort. She stepped into the hallway slowly making her way to the living area, she could hear Razz and Catra talking, when they came into view Catra was pinching the bridge of her nose, eyebrows furrowed other hand on her hip and talking in a low tone to Razz, who looked so unbothered.

“C’yra, I don’t know why you both hide it.” she shuffled to a cupboard and pulled a bag out and walked over to Adora handing it to her. “No time to worry, let it all out.” she walks over to her rocking chair and sits. “Wasting time.” Catra lets out a sigh and glances towards Adora, and she swears her cheeks are dusted with pink. 

“Come-on dumbass, we need to get to Theymor.” She picks up a back and heads out the front door. “Bye Razz don’t lose your mind too much while I’m gone.” and she was gone.

“Uh, thank you, for you know, letting us stay and helping me get better.” Adora rambles on.

“C’yra has a hard time showing how she truly feels, be patient with her dearie. She will come around.” Adora’s eyes bulge.

“Uhm… What?” Adora clears her throat. “Well, I’m gonna just.” Adora heads to the door.

“And remember to not underestimate her ability to understand, she has grown so much.” When Adora looks over her shoulder to ask Razz what she means. She is gone. Adora is alone in the large room. She frowns, shaking her head and decides to drop it and closes the door behind her. 

Catra is standing next to the horse they stole from Fright City, she is adjusting the saddle. Adora walks up next to her, securing the bag Razz gave to her. 

“Thank you, for taking care of me.” Adora says quietly. 

“You saved my life, I saved yours. We are even.”

“Catra.”

“If we want to get to Theymor before sundown we need to leave as soon as-”

“Catra.”

“They are going to be looking for us-”

“Catra.”

Catra’s hands are shaking as she tries to buckle a strap. Adora grips onto her wrists and pulls her to face her. 

“Catra, I won’t let them get away with what they did. And I promise they won’t be able to hurt you ever again.” Adora can’t help but let her anger show. “I will end them, Lord Prime and Lady Weaver.” She pulls Catra’s hands to her chest. “I promise,” Catra relaxes a little. Adora takes that as a sign and she pulls Catra to her chest and wraps her arms around Catra engulfing her, wrapping her cloak in extension. Catra’s arms slowly move to wrap around Adora’s waist, she lets out a shaky breath and lets herself sink into Adora’s embrace completely. 

Adora missed this, she missed Catra. Having her close like this felt so warm and at home, more than she has had the whole time they have been apart. She doesn’t know how long they stay like that, but Catra says something about Adora being a sap and tells Adora to get on the horse. Adora slowly pulls away but right before they break apart, she leans down and kisses Catra’s forehead. Adora gets on the horse and Catra pulls herself behind Adora, wrapping her arms around her waist and burying her face into her shoulder blades. They both pull their hoods up and are on their way to Theymor.

***

Their journey was in relative silence, just soaking in the presence of each other. They were almost to the safe house when Adora broke the silence. 

“Catra?” 

“Hm?”

“Why did Razz keep calling you C’yra?”

“No idea.” Catra stiffens so a second before relaxing. “She is like a hundred years old Adora. Who knows?”

The safe house is in sight, it’s the same one Adora was at with Bow and Glimmer a couple weeks ago. Once in the clearing she stops at the stable, she hitches the horse. There is the sound of a latch and stomps. Swifty is now a few feet away from Adora, she startles at first but then chuckles. Catra squeaks at the sudden appearance of a giant horse. Swifty is now whining and chuffing loudly as he stomps on the ground.

“I know, I know buddy. I didn’t leave you though.” Adora shifts her eyes from Catra to Swifty. “It’s a long story, but I’m back, I’m sorry buddy.” Adora slowly approaches the visibly upset beast. She feels a hand grab her forearm pulling her back.

“What the fuck are you doing?! He is huge and can stomp you to the ground!” Catra hisses.

“It’s just Swifty.” Adora places a hand on Catra’s. “Trust me, I’ll be fine. He would never hurt me.” Catra looked unsure but pulled away, letting Adora risk her life to the beast.

Adora approaches Swifty, he shakes his head huffing at her. She reaches her hand out slowly walking towards him. He starts to calm down as she gets closer. When she finally reaches him, she puts her hand on his forehead and scratches lightly, he sighs and pushes forward pressing his head into her chest and she takes it as permission to hug his head. He lets out little whines. 

“I know, I’m here now. It’ll take more than that to get rid of me.” She backs up, giving him a quick kiss on the forehead. “I gotta go inside, if I find a treat I’ll come back and give it to you.” Turns around to see a fond look on Catra’s face, Adora smiles at her, a buzz in her chest. 

“YOU!” and then a blur of pink and purple flash and a fist connects to Catra’s jaw. “BITCH!”

“Glimmer!” Bow rushes to pull her back, he gives Adora an apologetic grimace.

“What the fuck Sparkles?” Catra is rubbing her jaw. 

Adora rushes to put herself in front of Catra. “Woah, hey she is on our side now. Relax.”

“I don’t care, she still deserved that for kidnapping you!”

“That’s fair.” Catra says dusting off her tunic. 

Glimmer pulls out of Bow’s grasp and wraps her arms around Adora, pulling her into a tight embrace, Adora chuckles and returns it. “Hi, Glimmer.” 

“We were so worried; Adam fucking lost his shit. And I started to panic, then my dad’s staff showed itself to me, and out of nowhere I was teleporting everywhere. Bow got me to calm down enough to focus on not doing it, then I teleported us all to Fright City and we came for you!” Glimmer started to sob into Adora’s chest. Bow came over to embrace them both with tears in his eyes. 

“Ahem, hate to interrupt this whole-” She waves her hand in a circle. “-whatever the fuck this is. But I would like to get inside.” Her whole soft demeanor changed, and she was cold and distant. Adora was confused because Catra was fine moments ago.

“Yes, let’s go inside.” Bow pulls back, Glimmer pulls away but keeps an arm around Adora’s waist. 

They head inside, Bow enters the kitchen back door first with Glimmer and Adora after him, Catra doesn’t have time to register where she is when she walks through the threshold before she is swept up into familiar muscular arms and is now a victim to a bone crushing hug.

“Wild Cat! Oh, by the light! The stars! And everything! You are okay!” Scorpia sounds so relieved. 

“Scorp’” Catra pats her back. “Can’t breathe…” Catra wheezes. 

“Oh, Sorry!” Scorpia sets Catra down. “I’m just so happy that you are alive!”

“Me too,” Catra smiles up at her friend. Adora’s heart drops when she sees the interaction between them. She doesn’t know why she would feel that way. So, she pulls herself away from Glimmer.

“Where is Adam and Mara?” Adora asks.

“They are in the living area with the kids and the two horde soldiers we originally went on this mission for.” Glimmer says, taken aback at the abrupt pull from her. Adora doesn’t pay any mind to it, she grabs Catra’s hand and heads into the living area with Catra in tow. When they reach it Adora sees her brother on the ground pretending to be dead as children run around him giggling. Mara has a book in her hand and three children on her lap as she reads. Rogelio and Lonnie sit in the armchairs by the fire drinking tea with totally relaxed faces.

“Of course, my brother would lose to a bunch of children.” Adora felt Catra’s hand pull away from her, she turned to look at her with a frown. 

Adam jolted up right from the lying position he was in and the dramatic dialogue he was giving, eyes wide. “Adora?!” He was to his feet so quick, and she was in an embrace seconds later. “You never risk your life for pretty girls, that’s my thing!” She chuckles. 

“I’m glad to know my cousins don’t think with their brains on their shoulders.” Mara rolls her eyes gently, removing the children from her lap and approaches Adora. “I am glad you are alive and well squirt.” Mara places a hand on her shoulder squeezing it lightly. She then turns to Catra with her hand extended. “You must be Catra,” Catra hesitantly grabs onto Mara’s forearm to greet her. “I’m Mara. This dumbass is Adam, Adora’s twin.” Catra lets a smile slip.

“They truly are twins then, because they have being a dumbass in common.” Catra jokes.

“I like her.” Mara turns to Adora winking at her, Adora goes scarlet.

Adam pulls from the embrace arm wrapped around Adora’s shoulder pulling her close still. His arm now extended to Catra with a wide grin on his face.

“Nice to meet you Catra. I understand now why Adora would talk about you all the time.” His eyes scanned Catra’s body, when he reached her eyes, he winked. 

Catra dug her nails into his flesh when she greeted him, “Adora obviously oversold when she talked about you.” she slightly narrowed her eyes at him as she pulled her hand away.

“Oh! I really like her!” Mara laughed, slapping her hand onto his shoulder. Wincing he withdrew himself from Adora.

“Alright! What rooms are available?” Adora was flushed so deep her entire face, ears and neck were red.

“Already thinking of rooms.” Adam smirked.

“Not- that’s not what- We are tired from our travels! Mara?” Adora hid behind her hands. Catra just watched her amused.

“Your room is still free but there aren’t any other beds available. We have a full house as you can see.”

“That’s fine I’ll sleep in the tack room in the barn.” Adora pulls her hands away from her face and shrugs. “Alright, bye.” She grabs onto Catra’s hand and pulls her up the stairs. 

“How much you want to bet on them…” Adam's voice slowly fades.

“I’m sorry about Adam, he has no manners.” Adora says facing forward, determined to reach her destination.

“He is harmless, I’ve met some real assholes. He is just a goofball like you.” Adora can hear the grin Catra’s voice. Adora just lets a nervous laugh. Catra nudges her shoulder into Adora’s. “Hey, are you okay?” She sounds so concerned, Adora is really trying to keep it together.

“Mhm!” Adora squeaks. 

“Okay…” Catra doesn’t sound convinced, but she isn’t going to push it.

Adora reaches her room and pulls Catra in and shuts the door. 

“Uh that’s the bed and that’s a water basin. There is a desk, uh do you need something to change into for bed?” Adora somehow says in one breath.

“I know how a room works, princess. And yes, something to change into would be nice.” Catra says smiling.

Adora walks up to her wardrobe and pulls out a baggy shirt and some cotton shorts. She turns to hand them to Catra, Catra is staring up at Adora, it’s not hard for her to fall into the pull of the Catra’s eyes. Clearing her throat, she pulls herself together, hands Catra her clothes.

“I’ll go get you some tea to help sleep.” Adora mumbles. Heading out of the room in a rush, she stumbles down the stairs, and heads to the kitchen. She fills the kettle with water and places it on the fire to boil.

“Are you going to tell her?” Mara’s voice is behind her, Adora stiffens then turns to face Mara. She is leaning back on the counter, arms crossed.

“Tell who what?” Adora asks, confused.

“Catra, that you love her.” Adora’s face goes red for the thousandth time today.

“I-” Adora stutters. “I mean she is my best- she used to be my best friend.” Adora adverts her eyes.

“You know what I mean.” Mara pulls away from the counter and stands in front of Adora, uncrossing her arms she grabs hold of both of Adora’s hands. “You are allowed to want things, Adora.”

“She doesn’t feel the same, she has Scorpia…” Adora looks up into Mara’s eyes.

“Do you know that for a fact, or are you making excuses for you not taking what you want?” Mara sighs.

“It doesn’t matter what I want, it’s not the time. I need to be on my best game, I can’t have Lord Prime or Lady Weaver take the upper hand again. I need to focus on keeping everyone safe, I can’t fucking fail Mara.” Adora says tears welling in her eyes.

“Adora, you are more than what you can do for others. You are deserving of love too.” Mara wraps her arms around Adora, Adora pulls into the embrace. But pulls away once the kettle starts whistling. “Just think about it, take your time and let it simmer, alright?” Adora nods. Mara kisses her forehead and walks out of the kitchen leaving Adora alone.

Adora makes the tea and heads up stairs to her room, she knocks gently on the door, Catra calls for her to enter.

“It’s still hot so be careful.” Adora says averting her eyes, setting the teacup on the nightstand and starts to walk to the door to leave. But then Catra reaches out to grab onto her hand.

“Stay…” Adora barely hears Catra breathe that out.

“Are you sure?..” Adora swallows.

“Yes, dumbass.” Catra stands and walks over to the wardrobe and pulls out a shirt and shorts for Adora. She sets them on the bed and walks up to Adora. She pushes a strand of hair behind Adora’s ear. “Now I’m going to turn around and you change.”

 Catra moves to the side of the bed next to the nightstand, her back towards Adora, she picks up her teacup and sips it. Adora hurries and changes. And moves the blanket back then sits on the other side of the bed, stiff. She is so nervous. Her heart is beating hard in her ears, her hands are clammy. She feels the bed shift behind her. Catra’s hands slide up her shoulders and wrap around them and she firmly pulls Adora back until her head hits the pillow. 

“You are being weird, relax.” Catra smiles.

“I-I’m not being weird.” Catra giggles, which makes Adora laugh, and she relaxes into the bed. “Okay, maybe I am being weird. It’s just I haven’t shared a bed with anyone, ever since…” Adora swallows.

“Me either, so relax.” Catra lays next to her pulling the covers over them.

They lay there in silence for a few minutes awkwardly laying side by side, Catra huff finally done with the stupidity, she grabs Adora’s arm and puts it behind her head and she slides her hand across Adora’s abdomen wrapping an arm around her waist as she buries her face into Adora’s shoulder. Adora is rigid. 

“Is this, okay?” Catra’s voice is muffled from her shoulder. “Because, if it’s not I can-” She starts to pull away, but Adora pulls her closer to her, even though she is sure everyone in the fucking house can hear her heart pounding in her chest. 

“No, It’s okay, nice actually.” Adora doesn’t know why but she starts to run her hand up and down Catra’s back. It’s Adora’s turn to ask. “Is this, okay?” 

“Yes.” Catra buries herself deeper into Adora. She lets out a soft noise. Adora smiles to herself.

“You are getting soft on me, D’riluth?” Adora giggles. 

“Shut up.” Catra groans, then bites Adora’s shoulder. It was something she used to do all the time with Adora, whenever Adora annoyed her, or just to show her affection, because stars forbid, she uses her words. 

This felt different though, it sent a jolt to Adora’s lower abdomen, and she let a gasp fall from her lips. Catra lightly digs her nails into Adora’s side, looking up at her. “Sorry…” Catra whispers.

Adora made the grave mistake of looking down, her eyes connected with Catra’s, and she was lost in the warmth of sunrises and bright blue skies of Catra’s eyes. Her breath hitched, Adora slid her hand to Catra’s lower back where she was met with skin, Catra’s night shirt must have moved up a little settling for bed. Catra’s whole body shivered, and her eyes dilated slightly. Adora’s eyes glanced down to Catra’s lips then back to her eyes, Adora couldn’t help herself she licked her own lips, it might have given herself away, but she really didn’t care. But she caught Catra doing the same thing, now Catra had a sultry smirk on her face. She moved her hand from Adora’s waist to cup her face, Adora nuzzled into her hand. Moving her hand to Catra’s hips, she started rubbing circles with her thumb. Catra runs her fingers across Adora’s jawline, thumb running across her bottom lip, pulling it back. Adora whimpers. 

By the lights all Adora wanted was Catra, it’s all she ever wanted. But she can’t have her. She had to focus on ending Lord Prime, and if she did this she would be distracted. So willing all the power in the entire universe Adora pulled away and laid her head back letting out a breath. Catra pulled her hand away and pulled away from Adora and turned so her back was facing her. Adora felt like she ruined whatever was about to happen, but she needed to. She turned on her side and wrapped her arm around Catra’s waist and pulled her flush against her front.

“It’s not like that…'' She whispers into Catra’s shoulder blades. “It’s complicated.”

“I get it, it’s fine. Really.” Catra says. Adora just pulls her closer, and Catra melts into her. 

Eventually Catra’s breathing levels out and she is asleep, Adora kisses her shoulder. Her way of stealing a kiss, Adora lays in the bed with Catra and soaks in the closeness and the woman she loves. Not knowing if she will have this again.

*** 

Catra wakes up to birds chirping, she takes the pillow and covers her head to block them out. Then she realizes last night she almost kissed Adora, but of course Adora rejected her probably because whatever is happening between her and Glitter. Wait, the comforting weight that was behind her before she fell asleep was gone. She sat up and looked around, no sign of her. She probably woke up at the asscrack of dawn. Catra groans getting up, she washes up and gets dressed, she walks into the kitchen.

“Damn, how long did you two stay up?” Mara grins. 

“What?” Catra grumbles sitting at the table pouring herself a cup of tea.

“I’ve never seen Adora sleep in that late. Where is she?” Glimmer asks.

“Uh, what do you mean, she wasn’t there when I woke up.” Catra glares at them, damn they were nosey.

“What?” Mara asks.

“I went to sleep, she was there, when I woke up, she was gone.” Catra says slowly.

Bow comes into the kitchen, eyes frantic. “Swifty is acting weird. But he can’t leave his stall. Like there is a barrier there.” He looks around. “Where is Adora?”

“She’s gone,” Adam walks in rubbing his temple. “Last night.” He slumps down on a chair, “She told me she needed my sword and that she needed to get to a temple.” He groans. “Then she did that stupid little shock thing and knocked me out, she took my sword.” He grumbled. 

Catra stood up. “What? Did she say anything about a crystal?”

“Uh, yeah I think so.” 

“Fuck!” Catra rushed out of the kitchen out the back door to the stables.

“Hey horde scum!” Glimmer's voice called.

“I don’t have time, Sparkles.” Catra hissed.

“Hey!” Glimmer grabbed her arm. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Going to get Adora, what the fuck does it look like?” Catra yanked her arm away. 

“Take Swifty with you.” Glimmer says.

“What? That beast? No thank you.” Catra starts to saddle up a horse.

“No, put him on a lead and he will show you where she is, he has a connection with her. I don’t think she knows how strong their connection is. And she knew putting a barrier around him it would be almost impossible for us to get him out. She is very fucking powerful, there isn’t anyone here that can break that barrier, well except you maybe.” Glimmer says.

“Why are you helping me?” Catra stops strapping the saddle on the horse.

“Because, I love Adora.” Catra’s face falls. “Like a sister, and she seems to really like you, for reasons I will never understand. You are very important to her.” Catra blushes. “And I know she is important to you too, what happened to you two was shit. As much as I don’t like you, I love her more. And I think that is what we have in common right now.”

“Fine, I’ll break the barrier. But can you get someone to put a lead on him, he is terrifying.” Catra says going back to strapping the saddle onto the horse. 

“I’ll get Bow!” Glimmer runs off.

Catra finishes and walks over to the stall that holds the largest horse she has ever seen. She puts her hand on the gate and feels the buzz of energy. She closes her eyes and concentrates feeling the energy pool to her fingertips and then the feeling of fire. When she opens her eyes, the barrier is burning away and Swifty huffs nodding his head. Once Bow arrives he goes to put just a lead on Swifty, but he pulls away, he trots over to his saddle and nudges it.

“You want your saddle on?” Bow asks. And Swifty nods. 

Swifty then walks over to Catra looking her in the eye and huffs extending down into a bow.

“I-I-” Bow is stunned.

“What is he doing?” Catra asks, eyeing the large beast.

“He wants you to ride him…” Bow says with literal gleaming hearts in his eyes. “This is so cute, he never lets anyone but Adora ride him!”

“Not gonna happen, he is fucking huge and terrifying.”

“But he chose you.”

“I don’t care.” Swifty huffs then nudges Catra to the saddle.

“I don’t think you have a choice.” Glimmer says.

“Ugh, fine but you are saddling him up.”

“Yes!” Bow is so exciting. 

Bow gets Swifty Saddled up and ready, Catra gets onto him and turns to them, “I’ll get her back, I promise.”

“We know, now go get her! We will be heading to Brightmoon, so meet us there.” Glimmer says, giving her a genuine smile.

“Will do Glimmer.” Catra smirks before galloping away. 

“It’s about time you used my real name bitch!”

Swifty tears up earth as he gallops through the woods, taking her onto a path that looks like no one has taken it for many years. She was on her way to Adora, she wasn’t going to let her face this alone, she isn't going to lose her again.

Chapter Text

Adora is crouched behind a bush at the treeline in front of the temple, she is pretty sure she is hidden from sight, she can see through the leaves. There is a camp, there are a few Horde soldiers, two at the entrance of the temple, four walking a few feet from the treeline walking the whole perimeter of the temple and two at the camp sitting by the fire. 

Adora tried using her powers to see if there was anyone else in the temple, but she used all the power and energy she had on knocking Adam out and putting a barrier on Swifty’s stall. Sucking on her teeth Adora sat back on her haunches frowning, trying to figure out how she was going to take out the guards by herself. She spent most of the night after leaving the safe house hidden watching them, and their shift changes to see if she had an opening. 

They would switch off in twos, so at some point there would be two missing from the camp post. If she could somehow get to the camp post and take out two of them there, when the two who needed to switch come to see where they are for the shift change, then she had a chance to get those two and take them out and only had four left to go. She could take four of them no problem. It would be cutting it very close, one mess up and one of the guards makes enough noise, she would have six guards to fight and not four.

There was rustling behind her. Turning around, straining her eyes, she tries to pull energy forward but fails. After a few minutes of silence Adora turns back. Catra is crouched right next to her, Adora yelps but Catra quickly covers her mouth thankfully. Catra looks in the direction of the guards. When she knows they are safe and they didn’t hear Adora make noise.

Catra turns back to Adora leveling her with a glare that makes Adora lose all colour in her face, she stares at Catra with wide eyes and mouth agape when Catra slowly moves her hand from her mouth. “I know you might be mad right now,” Adora says, not blinking, scared that Catra might actually kill her.

“ Might?” Catra sneers.

“I-I alright, I know you are-” Catra grabs a hold to the front of Adora’s tunic, she gasps staring owlishly at Catra, blushing furiously. This shouldn’t make her feel like that right now. She shakes her head.

“You fucking asshole! You fucking left again!” Catra hisses, Adora winces and puts her hands up in surrender. 

“Catra, I’m sorr-” Catra tugs on her tunic bringing her closer.

“I don’t want to hear your stupid fucking excuses, Greyskull.” Catra looks absolutely livid, but there is something else creeping behind her eyes. “You fucking leave like that again and we are done, after I beat the shit out of you.” Catra shoves Adora making her lose her balance and fall back.

Adora falls with an oof! “Just for the record, I was going to come back.” Adora tries for a smile but it comes out strained. “I just needed to get past them, supercharge, find Prime and Weaver, end them and head back.” Adora huffs. “Easy.”

Catra pokes Adora in the middle of her forehead. Adora goes cross eyed looking at it. 

“Is there a brain behind this big forehead?” Adora scoffs, obviously offended. “What makes you think you are in this alone? And don’t you fucking dare say some stupid shit like ‘It’s my Destiny’ or ‘It’s my burden’ or some stupid thing. We are doing this together. We are, not just you. ” she extends her hand out. “Now get up, we need to get you to that crystal.” Adora hesitates, “I promise, if we weren’t in a time crunch and you didn’t need to do some hero shit, I would have definitely killed you for the shit you pulled.” Catra lets a soft smile slip. Adora returns the smile but in full force and grabs onto her hand and sits up.

“Wait, how did you know about the crystal?” Adora looks confused.

“Your brother, and when Prime did that weird mind control thing.” Catra’s eyes are staring into Adora’s but they glaze over a little. Adora takes the hand she is still holding and brings it up to her lips and kisses Catra’s knuckles. That pulls Catra out of whatever dark place she fell into. She nods. “I was in his mind too, I know what he was looking for in your mind.” Catra shifts her eyes to her hand, it's cradled to Adora’s chest now. Blushing slightly, Catra looks away. Adora notices and turns a thousand shades red and drops Catra’s hand  “We need to get into the temple.” Catra mumbles.

“Uh-Ahem- Yes.” Adora turns to face the treeline. 

Adora tells Catra her plan, Catra looks at her tilting her head in thought.

“What?” Adora questions.

“It sounds like a lot of work.” Catra stands and walks towards the edge of the treeline, she starts to pull knives out of what seems like thin air. “Follow my lead.” and with that Catra walks out into the clearing towards the two guards at the campsite.

“Uh… Alright.” Adora grabs her brother's sword and hurries to catch up to Catra.

Catra walks up to the guards and says something to them, and they go for their swords and look like they are about to yell for help when in a flash Catra’s knives find themselves thrown into the guards necks. They fall to the ground, blood slowly seeping out of their necks. Catra snaps her fingers and the knives are back in her hands. The guards are now bleeding out in a steady stream, eyes wide gurgling and choking on their own blood. Adora looks back to Catra who has a smirk plastered on her face. And gods, she doesn’t know why but it is doing something to her. Adora shakes her head, this is seriously not the time for this…  Adora finally is next to Catra.

“Was that necessary?”

“You know they would have eventually woken up from you knocking them out, and I’m not taking any chances.” Catra raises a brow. 

“Fair point.” Adora shrugs.

They still have six more guards to go. 

“You get the two at the entrance and I’ll get the four on the perimeter.” Catra saunters off, and Adora can’t help but watch her. Like she knew Adora was staring at her Catra looks over her shoulder. “Stop drooling, Greyskull.” that smirk is going to kill Adora she swears. “Plenty of time to watch me from behind after we are done here.” She winks at Adora and is off into the shadows.

Adora is standing there jaw to the ground, flushed to her fucking toes she is sure of it. The only noise is the crickets and the sounds of the two guards dying. Adora shakes her head and heads to the entrance.

She doubles back so she can come from the side of the temple, on her way she runs into one of the guards on the perimeter patrol. Like literally runs into them, they both stare at each other for a couple seconds before the guard goes for their sword, but a knife flies by Adora and is lodged into the guards eye, and they slump back.  

“That’s embarrassing, Greyskull.” Catra’s voice is somewhere to the side of Adora. 

Adora yelps, forgetting she is in the open. The two guards at the entrance look over her way, she feels pressure on her wrist then the feeling of warmth wrapping around her. The guards crane their necks like they are trying to see where the noise came from. 

The pressure on her wrist pulls her towards the entrance. The guards go back to facing forward like nothing happened. Adora is confused, she looks down at her hand and it’s gone.

“I cloaked you, idiot.” Catra whispers. “Am I going to have to do all the work?”

Adora yanks her wrist free once they are close enough to the guards and unsheathes her brother's sword, taps the closest guard's shoulder and when they turn she smashes the pommel of the sword into their face and they fall to the ground clutching their bleeding face. The second guard goes for their sword, Adora thrusts the blade into their chest and with loud cracks she pulls it down breaking through their ribs. The guard on the ground gets up, she can hear them unsheath their sword and move towards her, she swivels and knocks the blade away from her with her bracer then grabbing onto his wrist bending it so the blade is pointed under their chin.

“I’m giving you the chance to run out of here.” she presses the sword harder against their skin, cutting in slightly. “And doing better and starting over, or-” She nods towards the dead guard on the ground. “Which is it?”

“Run!” The guard whimpers. She lets go of them and they run to the treeline not looking back.

“You know,” Catra uncloaks herself. “He could be going to get back up.” she stands next to Adora looking up at her. 

“Well, then we better make this quick.” Adora grins down at her. “Come on, silent hidden killer cat.” Adora snorts. They both face the entrance.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“How do you know that? I could be leading you to your doom.”

“Because, you like me.”

“I do not like you.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

They both smile at each other, Catra looks away first clearing her throat. 

“So, how do we open this door?”

“ Eternia. ” Adora says.

The entrance opens and they both slowly walk in. It doesn’t feel the same as when she was younger. It would give her a low buzz of comfort, now it’s whirling with intense energy. It makes Adora stagger, Catra holds onto her, placing one of Adora’s arms around her shoulder.

“Hey, you doing okay?” Catra asks concerned.

“Yeah, just intense.” Adora’s breathing is labored.

She tries to use her powers, but still comes up empty. But there is a pull, she can feel it pulling her almost urgently to the crystal.

“I can feel it, that thing is chalk full of energy.” Catra glances worriedly towards Adora. “Are you sure it’s a good idea?”

“I have to.” 

“Adora, what are the chances of this working?”

“Not sure, I didn't exactly get a manual for this thing.”

“So, you are just winging it?” 

“I guess?” Adora leans more into Catra. “Fuck..”

“Adora…”

“I’ll be fine, I just want to get this over with.”

Catra guides Adora to the crystal, it starts to glow as she gets closer to it. She can feel the buzz and hear the crackles of magic and energy coming off of it. She pulls away from Catra once they reach the stone walkway.

“Whatever happens, don’t touch the crystal. Don’t even touch me.” Catra was about to say something. “I’m not sure what will happen to you. I’m not going to risk it, I know I’ll be able to handle it. But you aren’t a First One, so I’m not sure if you are compatible with it. So please stay back.” Adora looks at Catra pleading.

“Can’t make any promises, Princess.” Catra smirks at her.

“You are the biggest pain in my ass.” Adora smiles sadly at her. “Please…”

“I’ll try my hardest, just don’t die.” Catra’s face softens and she looks like she is about to say something else but pulls back. “Alright, get this over with dumbass.” 

Adora reaches for Catra’s hand and gives it a gentle squeeze then heads to the crystal. She can feel it in her bones now, the buzzing of magic and energy. She can see a shimmer around the crystal, like it is covered in tiny stars. Adora is right in front of it now, hand outstretched. The familiar tingle of energy prickles her fingertips. She takes a deep breath then places her palm flat against the crystal. Instantly she is surged with so much energy, she feels it in every cell of her body. It is almost too much. She grips onto her brother's sword, somehow knowing it will help her channel the power coursing through her. She opens her eyes that she didn’t know she had closed.

She isn’t in the temple. She is on a hillside, she can see a lot of Etheria from the spot. Everything looks alive and vibrant, even with a slight light hue around it. It feels peaceful and full of magic. Adora turns around to see a crystal like the one she just touched at the top of the hill. She walks towards it, the same pull is there but not as strong as the one at the temple.

She stands in front of it, and for some reason she knows she is waiting for something, or someone.

She feels a heavy presence behind her. She turns to see a eight foot tall figure, she is made of pure light, long hair in a high ponytail flowing behind her like it is magically floating. She is a unit of a light being. She doesn’t say anything. She places her hand on her chest, and Adora can 

see a red heart shape, it was blockey. Pointed edges and all.

“Who are you?” Adora asks.

The being tilts their head and takes a step toward Adora, they are inches away from her now, and Adora can feel the energy they are emitting.

“She-Ra.” Their voice is distorted.

“Why am I here?” Adora asks.

“You have been chosen. My spirit's energy is to be transferred to you.” they say.

“How do we do that?” She furrows her brows.

She-Ra moves the hand from her chest, and slowly moves it to the same spot on Adora. And with a flash Adora if wrapped in light and energy. Memories of battles and wars flash before Adora, with people and worlds she has never seen before. Everytime it changes it’s a different person wielding She-ra but the sword stays the same. And there is always another person with She-Ra, someone with the same sapphire and gold eyes as Catra, down to the same flecks of green in the blue eye. Adora feels overwhelmed, she doesn’t understand. Then she gets a flash of the same face but in different worlds, except they don’t look any different. Unlike the people who wield She-Ra this person is in the same eerie green and white robes. Lord Prime. 

When the flashes stop, Adora is on her knees on the hilltop. She-ra is kneeling next to her, the hand that was on her chest now on her shoulder. Her light is slowly dimming.

“I have to go now. The transfer was successful.” They get up and walk up to the crystal. “Time for me to rest.”

“Who were the women, the ones with the different coloured eyes?” Adora asks.

She-Ra’s light starts to flicker. “C’yra.”

“Who?..” Adora remembers Razz calling Catra saying that. 

“She-Ra’s soulmate.” She-Ra says like it is something Adora should know already. “You have met her already, even though she seems a little more…”

“Ornery? Short tempered?” Adora snorts.

“Loyal, and protective. She will burn the universe down for you.” She-ra flickers. “It is time for me to go.”

“Wait! How do I defeat Prime?” Adora is getting antsy. 

“You are She-Ra now, use the sword.” Her voice is fading. “Just remember to trust and accept the help of those who care for you. They are the key.” and with that She-ra touches the crystal and Adora is blinded by light as it engulfs them both.

“ Adora!”

“ Damnit!”

Adora feels someone yank her back, she lands on something soft. The soft thing is small and grunting. Adora sits up to see Catra behind her.

“You were steaming, I thought it was burning you-” Catra’s eyes go wide, she sits up. 

“What?” Adora looks around the empty temple. 

“Y-your eyes…” Catra can’t seem to take her own eyes off of Adora’s. “I’ve never seen them so bright.” she looks away shaking her head.

“What’s wrong with them?” Adora pats at her eyelids.

“They are gold, instead of blue…” Catra says. “Fucking annoying they are so bright.”

Adora smiles, she goes to stand up, but notices she doesn’t feel any strain in her muscles. She looks down at Catra and Catra’s is gaping at her.

“What?” Adora looks confused.

“Adora, what happened when you touched the crystal?” Catra is now looking her up and down.

“She-Ra transferred her spirit’s energy to me. Why?”

Catra stands up, and for some reason she is tilting her head up more than she does. Adora takes the chance to look down at her own body. She is glowing and her clothes are bright and the muscles under them are straining against them. She grew about two and a half feet taller, and is bulkier.

“By the fucking lights, Adora.” Catra is blushing. “Alright. So is this how you…” Catra gulps. “Will it stay forever now?”

“I don’t think so, I think I can change back.” Adora holds out the sword and concentrates on channeling her powers. And eventually she feels it dim a little, but she still feels the numb feeling of magic in her bones. She sheathes the sword. “This is so cool.” She is grinning wide.

“Yeah.” Catra is blushing.

There is a cold chill that blows through the temple, Adora looks over to the entrance.

“Well done…” Adora’s blood runs cold, and she can feel Catra’s body go rigid and hear her stop breathing for a couple seconds. Adora turns to the entrance of the temple. His white and green robes is Lord Prime, he has a sickening smirk on his face that makes Adora’s stomach churn. 

“Thank you, for doing what I couldn’t.” He slowly makes his way inside the temple, one long nail running across the surface of random crystals. “Now it’s time for you to hand it over to me.”

“I can’t just give it to you. And I would never do it willingly!” Adora glares at him.

“I figured. Lady Weaver!” Lady Weaver slowly materializes from the shadows. Take care of the runt.

“With pleasure.” She has a stone cold face, she sends a negative energy blast at Catra, Adora shoves Catra out of the way. Then grabs onto her arm and pulls her around one side of the many smaller crystals. 

“Get out of here.” Adora says.

“No, I’m finally going to get my chance, I’m killing that old hag.” Catra hisses.

Adora sighs, “Fine, but get her outside and in the woods. It will be harder for her to keep up with you.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Catra grins at Adora. “Kick that creeps ass.”

“Be careful, Catra.” Adora says with a soft smile.

Catra runs her fingers across Adora’s scars on her jawline, “I always am.” she leans in and kisses the corner of her mouth, pulling away as she smirks up at Adora. “Now don’t make me come back and save your ass.” and with that she runs towards a portal she materialized and is gone. Adora runs her fingers across where Catra kissed her.

Adora stands full height and summons She-Ra, face set and determined she walks out from behind the cluster of crystals they were hiding behind. 

“Finally.” Lord prime materialized a metal staff out of thin air. His nails now talons, and eyes glowing. 

Adora spins the sword in her hand and rolls her shoulders.

“I can’t wait for you to stop talking.” She grins smugly at him. “I’m going to cut you down like you cut my people down.”

“Ha ha ha, child you are a new born baby compared to me. This won’t last long, I assure you.” he sneers.

They both rush each other, sword and staff collide, the sparks of gold and green light the entire temple as they clash into each other.