They rescue a magic cat,
Adora chats,
and she wants a bat.

S5 EP8

~

Adora paced.

She did this often, especially when she was stressed. She did a lot in her pregnancy too, looking back on it. Maybe that's why her feet had hurt so much... huh.

Adora paused in her back and forth walking. She looked at Bowed and Glimmer. "Anything yet?" Bow hesitated. "Adora, I tried, but no one's answering. They're... gone," Adora shook her head. "No. That's not good enough," She put her fist to her mouth, gnawing on her knuckles in frustatrion. "Well... if they're not answering, Adora... there's... well there's nothing we can do," Glimmer said slowly. Adora exhaled heavily, her coping mechanism temporarily failing. "We woudn't even be in this shitshow if it weren't for you!" She snapped. Glimmer's eyes widened in hurt. Bow continued tinkering behind, muttering lowly with Entrapta. Catra stayed quiet, the only sound coming from her tail softly bashing against the wall of the ship.

The air was tense, tenser than it had been in the near two week journey home.

Adora huffed, turning away and massaging her temples. She sighed heavily, leaning on the arm of the captains chair. The metal dug into her legs harshly, but the pain kept her grounded. Pain. She mused. A thing she knew almost as well as herself. Adora couldn't remember a day where she'd been pain free. If it wasn't overexhaustion driven sickness in the Horde, or training through injuries that really shouldn't have been trained through, or fighting off her crippling migraines during simulation training, or the hunger pangs when they'd starve her for failing to meet her goals, or taken a beating for her squad... or taking Catra's place before Shadow Weaver's ire.

Stupidly, she thought it'd be different in the Rebellion. She was wrong. The demands were the same. Fight for us. Heal yourself, wake up - the fever's not that bad, transform, do a speech, travel acorss the world to some antsy group and give them hope, train with Light Hope, fight through the exhasution, train with the guards, fight through the broken bones and concussion, try and placate the increasing frustration of the Princesses, rescue said Princesses, save their kingdoms, don't eat - we haven't got time... and that was just in the first year. The following year was so much worse, so much more demanding. On top of everything they expected, Adora was also fighting through her pregnancy - sickness and pains included, only to be forced back into active service less than ten days after her daughter was born.

Ten days.

Then, just as everything started to quieten down, Glimmer fucked up on a colossal scale, forcing Adora to abandon her four week old to clean up her messes, once again.

"Uh-oh. I think I found the blockade Perfuma was speaking about," Adora sighed deeply, shutting her eyes for a few seconds, trying to clear her mind of the suffocatingly negative dark cloud of PPD... maybe just the d now... Bow whined. "That's a lot of Horde ships," He said. Adora finally walked over, folding her arms stiffly. "How are we meant to ger through that?" Glimmer asked. "If I could used magic, I'd teleport us past it. I've never felt such a lack of magical energy in my life," She growled high-pitched. "Why does space hate me so much?!" Adora nearly scoffed. She'd survived the best part of seventeen years with no magic. Confidently sure, Adora reassured herself she could survive the longest out of all them, Catra disincluded.

Because Catra always survives.

"Magic or no magic, we're going home," Adora unfolded her arms, putting her hands on her hips. I'm getting home to my daughter. She examined the orb displaying the blockade. Catra scoffed. "So, your plan was to, what, ram through an armada of ships?" Adora pouted. "No!" She paused. That was exactly the plan. She crossed her arms petulantly. "Maybe! We have to try," She implored. Catra was in her face within seconds. "You heard Perfuma! They're waiting for us. They're going to catch us. And if they do-" Catra cut herself off. Adora frowned as Catra's hands shook violently. "Take it from someone who's defeated you guys, liked, a lot. Charging in without a plan will not work,"

Adora sighed quietly as Catra stormed off to the window. "Okay, well," She scoffed, walking over. She leaned against the wall, watching the magicat carefully. "You haven't defeated us," Bow cleared his throat. "Adora, Catra's right," Say what?! Since when does Bow, of all people, agree with Catra!? Bow clearly felt the same at his own words. "That felt weird to said. We barely made it out the last time we tangled with Prime. We need to figure out another way to help our friends. Catra, you were with him. Did he have any kind of, I dunno know, weakness?" Bow tried.

Catra scoffed bitterly, remaning in her corner, sulking. "What, you thought he'd tell me?" She snarked. Adora rolled her eyes. "You are correct, brother," Adora lept into the air with a shout, arms poised ready to swing. She glanced at her fists. Ooohh... maybe that's where Violet gets her tendancies to hit first, ask later from... whoops.

Wrong Hordak continued smiling. "We do not discuss Horde Prime's weakness," He said. Adora chuckled in an attempt to get her heart to slow down. "Uh, wh-huh, so that means Horde Prime does have a weakness," She goaded, smirking softly. Wrong Hordak's head tilted to the side hesitantly, nervously almost. "No. Horde Prime is all-powerful,"

Bow hummed lowly. "You just said-"

"We do not discuss Horde Prime's weakness. We did not discuss Krytis," Adora's eyebrows rose into her headline. "What's Krytis?" Glimmer voiced Adora's thoughts. Wrong Hordak fiddled with his hands. "Krytis does not exist, and if it did, we would not discuss it," His voice trembled.

"It was a planet. A planet,"

Adora glanced at Catra. She narrowed her eyes slightly in concern. You ok? She asked with her eyes. Catra's eyes roamed Adora's for a moment. Yeah. Adora nodded softly, crossing her arms again. She brought her leg up against the wall, leaning against her foot. It was her "if I need to run, I can use the momentum but also, I look super casual" pose.

Wrong Hordak whimpered nervously. Entrapta raced to the interface. "Hmm. There something here, but it locked. We need administrator clearance to access it," She said. Adora pushed off the wall, strolling over. "Darla, show us," The interface buzzed softly, bringing up a starry map. "A-ha! According to Darla's recorded, it located here," Entrapta pointed to a small blob on the map. "Not too far from us!" Wrong Hordak began babbling about how Krytis doesn't exist. Adora frowned at the map, gnawing her lip softly. "Adora?" Entrapta said quietly. Well... quietly for Entrapta. Adora hummed, not looking away. "I might not be good at subtle situational cues," She began. Adora frowned softly, still looking at the map. "But I know you want to get home to your child," She said. Entrapta's hair touched Adora's hand. "This planet is only an hour away, max. We could still be home by the evening," Adora sighed softly. "Is it quicker to do that? To go to the planet first?"

Entrapta shook her head. "No. See, right now, we're only ninety minutes away from Etheria. Going to Krytis would put us to one-fifty. Or, two point five hours away. But... we have a greater chance of success by heading to Krytis first," Adora puffed out a breath. "How much greater?" She asked. Entrapta pushed a graph into her eyeline. "Our chances of success sky rocket by one-hundred-and-sixty-seven percent,"

Adora gave a curt nod, hesitating in patting Entrapta's hair. "Thanks," She said. Entrapta's face lit up in a smile, softer than the maniacle one she'd come to associate with the made scientist. "It's no problem. My parents left me when I was two. And if I ever have children, I would want to be with them as much as I could," Adora landed her hand onto Entrapta's shoulder firmly. She gave it a soft squeeze.

She walked to the captain's chair, sitting heavily in it. "There something on Krytis that Prime didn't want us to know about... And we're gonna find it... set course for Krytis,"

~

"Prime was definitely here," Bow announced. The planet was completely destroyed, only grey grounds as far as the eye could see, cracked beyond recognition. It was a wasteland. Adora rubbed her hands together. Something on this planet was putting her nerves into overdrive... something... ancient. "But something made him leave,"

The group walked down the rocky precipice, with Entrapta and Wrong Hordak close behind. They climbed through a door to the Spire that was cracked opened, stopping in a large open area. Dust billowed around ominously. Entrapta grunted as she dropped down in front of them and crooned in awe, then continued down quickly on her hair tendrils. Adora shook her head fondly, leading the charge behind the mad scientist. Her hands shook violently the further into the planet she walked. Maybe it was siphoning her magic away? No... she'd felt that feeling before... and quite honestly, wouldn't wish it on her worst enemy... well... maybe she'd wish it on Prime.
(she totally wished it on Prime)

"This place should have some log of the invasion," Entrapta mused as she picked up a long metal piece with her tendrils. She grabbed and pulled Wrong Hordak with a tendril of her hair. "Maybe Wrong Hordak could connect to it and told us what happened here,"

She waited a few moments. "Good news, my readings showed that the atmosphere is safe," Entrapta, no care for herself at all, yanked her helmet off and tossed it into the dead land. Adora released the oxygen lock on hers, breathing in the clear air. She, unlike the scientist, tucked her helmet under her arm, running a hand through her hair. Catra's sudden hiss drew her attention. "It is not!" She proceeded to push against her helmet with her foot, hissing loudly as she struggled to remove it. Adora cracked up into laughter, catching herself on her knees. Catra continued to fight with her helmet loudly, hissing profanities until it popped off with a loud hiss.

Adora's eyes burned as tears left them. Happy ones, for once. Usually the only tears to leave her were pain filled or emotionally driven. Not these; these were happy. Real happy tears. It'd been so long since she'd experienced true happiness, Adora had almost forgotten the feeling. She sighed as her laughter died out, rubbing her eyes clear of tears. Entrapta suddenly shrieked loudly. "I'm picking up a heat signature. There's someone alive on this planet, right here, somewhere in this Spire!" She turned in awe. Wrong Hordak stuttered in panic. "I-i-impossible. Prime destroyed all life here on this planet that does not exist,"

Adora raised her eyebrows. "Well, he missed someone, and we have to find them," Entrapta tossed something in her direction. Adora grabbed it with no problem, fitting it into her ear smoothly. "I've pulled up the Spire's schematics. We'll guide you through from here," Entrapta said.

...

They began to forge ahead, only stopping when Catra sputtered loudly. "So, wait, the plan is to barge ahead into the structurally unsound building to find some mystery person that we knew nothing about, in hopes that they somehow know how to defeat Horde Prime?" Adora nodded in agreement. "That about sums it up," She smiled. "Yeah, pretty much," Bow agreed. "Yep, that's the plan," Glimmer giggled.

Catra grumbled beneath her breath. Adora turned to playfully scold her, but Bow was already by her shoulder. "You know, we were just gonna recklessly blast our way through that blockade until you stopped us. So... this whole thing is basically your idea," Catra's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, it's kind of your mission," Glimmer laughed. They swung their arms around Catra's. "No, it's not-" They began swinging in a circle, chanting: "Catra's first mission, Catra's first mission!" Adora snorted as she walked over, arms crossed. Catra yowled, ducking out from under them, bashing into Adora's chest. Subconsciously, her arms wound around Catra's middle. If Catra wasn't blushing, Adora sure as hell was. She let the magicat go with a playful smirk, despite her body feeling incredibly cold.

"Ugh, I'm gonna kill your friends," Catra vowed, stomping away. "Please don't," Adora called.

...

The squad walked along a hallway in silence, only broken by occasional personal mumbles to oneself. Adora approahced a clear doorway, humming in consideration. "That's weird," She mused, putting her hand on it. "Cool. Maybe this planet chased away Horde Prime with poorly planned architecture," Catra snarked by her said. Adora flapped her hand in dissmissal, chuckling softly as Catra batted her hands away. "Why'd you stop? Go through the door right in front of you," Entrapta said over the earpiece. "Entrapta... there is no door," Bow said back. Entrapta huffed. "Well, the schematics show a door right where you're standing. Data never lies!"

Catra scoffed. "Ah, whatever. We needed a door?" Adora watched in shock as Catra raked her claws across the wall, one, two, three, four times. She delievered a kick hard enough to knock the broken wall down into the abyss. "There's your door. You're welcome," Adora felt the heat rush to her cheeks as she smiled. What? It was hot. "Uh, we don't know what we're dealing with here. Maybe you shouldn't have just smashed stuff..." Bow said slowly. Catra simply gestured. "Do you wanna found whoever is here or not? Let's just get this over with,"

Adora glanced at Bow nervously. She lept through first, landing smoothly on her feet. Glimmer followed next, then Bow, then finally, Catra. They continued to walk down the hallway. Adora's arms lit up in goosebumps the further in they walked. Something about this place wasn't right. Golden balls of... something... began to float around in the hallway. Huh... they almost felt... magical. Adora hesitated in reaching out to touch one. The last time she'd touched a golden ball, she'd burned her hand painfully.

Adora touched her earpiece. "Entrapta, this floor is clear. Where to now?" She winced softly, clutching her ear when feedback drilled into her mind. "Entrapta?" She asked again. "Sorry! Seems Wrong Hordak has begun to question the meaning of life," Adora grimaced as she glanced at the others. "But don't worry! I've got it totally under control!" Wrong Hordak continued to wail over the line. Adora tapped her foot in agitation. "Okay, any sign of those life readings?"

"I'm picking up something on the next level," Entrapta said. Adora nodded to herself, removing her finger from the earpeice. "Upstairs. Let's go,"

The squad continued to trek upwards in silence. Adora was thankful for that. Her mind was buzzing way to much for any form of coherency. Especially her building frustration with Glimmer. Though... she'd accidently let some of that frustration out earlier. It'd been incredibly tense since then.

achoo!

Adora turned in slight shock. "It's a normal sneezed!" Catra shoved Bow away. Adora chuckled watching the exchange. Catra did have a cute sneeze, she always had done, even back in the Horde. "I can't believe the whole time you were trying to kill us, you had the cutest sneeze of all time!" Bow continued to fawn. "I am not cute!" Catra hissed. Her tail puffed up in agitation. Adora cackled, folding over at the middle. "The angrier you get, the cuter you are!" Catra hissed as she lunged for him. She missed, crashing into the wall. Adora straightened up, wiping her eyes quickly. Catra shrieked suddenly, yanking on her hand which was... dissapearing into the wall!

Adora charged. "Catra!" She yelled. Bow got there first, grabbing her hand. Adora wound her hands around Catra's waist, pulling tightly. "Get me out of this thing!" She screamed. Adora gave a final tug, collapsing onto the ground, Catra flush against her torso. "Run!" Adora moved around Catra's body, gasping loudly. "Up! We've gotta move!" She hauled the magicat to her feet, dragging her through the remainder of the hallway. Spikes as sharp as her sword shot from the wall rapidly approaching them.

They rushed to the end, barely lifting themselves out of the hallway quick enough.

...

"What was that? Why did that wall try to eat me?!" Adora glanced around, ice settling into her bones. "Was not this where we started?" She asked aloud, the walls looking eerily familiar. Something echoed in the chamber, a... a growl. Adora's arms lit up into goosebumps. "You guys heard that, too, right?" Bow asked softly, inching closer to Glimmer. "The energy signature is just ahead of you. Go through the door on your left," Entrapta's voice was odd... cold, maybe. Adora pressed her earpeice with shaky fingers. "Door? W-what door?" She glanced to her left, freezing at the sight of a door that definately wasn't there thirty seconds ago.

Catra's arm grabbed hers. "We're not really going through that... are we?" She shivered. Adora gnawed on her lip for a moment. "Well, Entrapta said this is the way, so, let's go," She steeled her fear and pushed through, walking into the creepy hallway. "Seriously?! How have you guys stayed alive this long?" Catra grumbled behind.

...

They walked for ages. Like... longer than the distance should've been. Adora narrowed her eyes as the pushed through the thoughts. It felt like she was on a mover, back in her time with the Horde. It was a peice of equiptment designed for you to enhance your running on without actually leaving the base. She gasped softly as the tunnel actually moved further back. She stopped moving dead in her tracks, pebbles scattering from the sudden stop.

"Adora! Are you there? Wrong Hordak downloaded the rested of the recorded from Prime's occupation of Krytis, and guessed what?! This planet was once a First Ones colony like Etheria. It looks like Horde Prime and the First Ones were fought for control of this planet, and Horde Prime won," Adora narrowed her eyes, looking to the ground as she listened to Entrapta. Her eyes roamed about aimlessly, as they always did when she was deep in thought. "But something on the planet drove him away before he could conquer it. He tried to erase all record of his failure," Adora turned back with a grin. "See?! We're on the right path!" She felt elated knowing there was something on this planet that could stop Prime.

"But we have to get out of here first. And that door's still not getting any closer," Bow pointed out. "Sorry, what door?" Adora's heart stuttered in her chest. "What do you meant, what door? The one you told us to go through!" Catra hissed into the earpiece. "That wasn't me. This is the first time we've talked since the last floor," Entrapta said back. Adora's body suddenly went very cold. As if the shadows were watching her lurking nereby, waiting to strike when she let her defences down. She stiffened up.

Catra pulled her hair. "I knew it! I knew this was a terrible plan! This placed is weird, and unnatural, and we needed to get out of here before-"

"By the way, who's your new friend?" Entrapta chimed in happily. Adora froze completely, her breath evaporting in her lungs. She was right, the shadows were watching, waiting until they could get her, drag her deep and never let her go, smothering her until all she could see was the thick expanse of pain and torture and misery.

"What are you talking about? It's just the four of us," Glimmer tried to sound upbeat despite the obvious tremor in her voice. "Hate to disagree, but there is a definite heat signature, right behind you," Adora turned ever so slowly, glancing over her shoulder.

A humanoid figure with a blue mane surroundint its head from its shoulders silently stood behind Bow and Glimmer. It's headed cocked to one side. It moved slightly. Glimmer lept into Bow's arms, screaming loudly. Adora screamed loudly as well and jumped back, having nobody to jump into. Catra yelled, charging from Adora's side and tackling the creature. She dissapeared before she hit the ground.

...

Adora pressed the button on her earpeice frantically. "Catra! Catra!" She cried. "Adora! I'm down here!" She called back. "I'm coming!" Catra was quiet for a second. "Hurry," She whispered. Adora's feet pounded the ground as she charged back the way they came. A spike was suddenly inches by her neck, making her gasp loudly. She barely swallowed, worried it'd slice her jugular if her throat moved too much. Bow and Glimmer got caught in the trap too, judging by the frightened gasps they let out. "Adora, what do we do?" Bow asked levelly, though Adora could hear the fear in his voice.

Adora's mind was running too fast for her to catch up. "I don't know, just- just nobody move!" She snapped, inching slightly further back. She shut her eyes briefly, wondering if this is how she'd die. Pathetically, squewered to death like a kabob. "Glimmer! What are you doing?" Bow hissed. Adora inhaled sharply as more spikes came closer to her face, to her throat.

"Hang on, I have to try something," Glimmer snapped. Adora wanted to punch her... so badly. This was not the time to be fucking around! And yet... when Glimmer dared to move her hand further forward, her neck-level spike simply dissolved into the golden orbs from earlier. She gasped. "llusions. These are all illusions... Then that means-" Adora touched the spike near her throat, exhaling heavily when it exploded into golden orbs as well. Glimmer yelled joyfully, slamming a wave of purple magic down. The spikes disintergrated immediately.

"I knew I feeled something about this placed. I thought it was bad, but it's- it's not! It's magic," Glimmer laughed. Adora flexed her own magic inside, a warm feeling running through her veins, replacing the empty cold she'd been feeling before. She smiled softly at Glimmer, unable to ignore the joyful laugh.

But something echoed loudly in the chamber.

Adora's heart fell into her chest.

"Catra!"

...

Adora fell out of the magic portal, courtsey of Glimmer, screaming. She landed with a thud, her head smacking panifully against the ground. Her visiob blurred as she sat up, rubbing her head harshly. "Catra! Hold- on?" Gone was the urge to charge headfirst into Catra's defense, seeing Catra... pet(?) the... cat(?)

Adora walked slowly towards her. "Are you- are you petting the thing that's been trying to killed us?" She couldn't help but ask. Catra hissed softly. "I'm trying something here, if you hadn't noticed," She growled through her teeth. Adora hid her mouth behind her hand, laughing softly. "It's just so... cute!" Bow's heart eyes thudded loudly.

Catra stood up, her tail bristling. "It's not cute!" The creature abruptly turned red and growled. Catra yelped. Adora moved closer. "Get away from her!" She yelled, readying to charge. Catra rushed in front, blocking her path with both armed extended. "No!" Catra paused, pinching her nose bridge with a soft sigh. "I'm sorry. I got angry. It's something I'm working on,"

Adora's eyes filled with happy tears. "Aww, you are?" She put her hand to her chest. "Yes! Now could you please-" Catra inhaled again, this time pressing her hands together in prayer. "Yes, I am. I think this thing responds to emotions. So could you not give me a hard time right now?" Adora stepped back, hands held in surrender, watching happily. "No, sorry, sorry. Do your thing,"

Catra walked away to the creature, approaching it like... like... well, like Adora had approached Catra in the past.

The creature growled again, then shifted backed into the calm feline exterior. It moved toward Catra's outstretched hand and sniffed, finally pressing its head into it. The creature began to glow, making the others hide their eyes. Adora was used to bright glows, what with the magical being swimming throughout her veins all day every day, arriving in a literalburst of light. When the glow died, Catra sat with a smaller version of the cat. Catra suddenly sneezed softly and wiped her nose. Adora snorted under her breath. The creature tilted its head slightly and mimicked the sneeze. Adora found it adorable. It was like... Catra was the big mama cat, and the creature was the baby cat.

Baby cat. Huh. Maybe Adora would steal that name for Violet. She was certainly as fiesty as one... at least from what Adora remembered. She approached Catra and the creature, unflinching as it growled warningly at her. Near the creature, she could feel something... powerful... emitting from it. With a soft gasp, Adora realised. "You're- you're magic aren't you?" She asked softly. The creature hissed again, shrinking and hiding behind Catra's legs. Adora kneeled on the ground. "Me, too," She smiled, bringing enough of She-Ra forward to light up her eyes.

The creature's eyes widened, deciding Adora wasn't a threat. She extended her hand, allowing the creature to sniff it, as she'd seen Bow do with dogs before. It shifted back into the calmer and larger version of itself. It pressed its face against Adora's cheek. Adora laughed, stroking its neck.

The creature turned to Catra, mewling at her. Catra began crawling back nervously. "Uh, what is it doing?!" Undettered, the creature continued mewling. "Uh, guys? Can you heard it talking, too? Pleased told me you can hear it talking," Adora shook her head softly. "It must have imprinted on you. It... trusts you," Bow said slowly. Adora sent a small glare at the slight lilt of confusion in his voice. Catra was trustworthy... when you'd earned it.

"Well, it shouldn't. Why is everything with you guys so weird?" She moaned. The creature continued to mewl. "It said its named is... Melog," Catra began. "It's been here by itself for a long time. It thought we were enemies, liked, um, the ones that went to take its magic? They dug into the ground, built machines," Adora sighed heavily. "The First Ones. That's what they were doing. They were mining this planet's magic, just liked on Etheria," She said bitterly. She stole a glare at Glimmer's back. "But they took too much. And then..."the one who destroys" came,"

Melog shifted into the similar figure of Horde Prime. Adora glared heavily at the figure. "He tried to conquer this place, but- but couldn't. The magic of Krytis was too wild for Prime. He didn't understand what it was. He couldn't use it, couldn't defend against it..." Catra translated. "Magic is Horde Prime's weakness!" Glimmer shouted with joy. "Melog drove Prime off but couldn't defeat him. And then... it's the last of its kind,"

Adora felt that. She was the last of the First Ones. No siblings, no parents, not even others like her, or from the same place as her. She kneeled at Catra's side, watching Melog carefully. "I'm sorry for what happened to you, but we're gonna made sure it never happens again. Our planet has magic, too. It might been the last place in the universe that does. If you wanna came with us, I think you'd really like it there,"

Melog's ears perked up and it purred. It licked Adora, elicting a happy laugh. She touching the earpiece. "Entrapta? We're on our way back down. And we're brought a friend,"

"That's great! And I'm happy to reported that Wrong Hordak's existential crisis has resolved," Wrong Hordak was heard on the line, preaching. "Brothers! Horde Prime lied to us. He is a false ruler. We must rise up against him, and free the universe from his unjust reign! Adora simply smiled. "That's the plan!"

...

"Coming up on the blockade around Etheria," Entrapta announced. "They'll have visual on us soon," She added nervously. Bow rubbed his arms. "We sure this is gonna work?" He asked. Adora strode forward, tapping Catra's shoulder. "Only one way to find out," She said. "Ready?" Catra smirked at the cat.

Melog mewled softly in response, beginning to glow. It disappeared, making golden orbs drift around inside the bridge. "So, just to made sure I get it, we're going to go running through a Horde blockade while relied on the magic of a creature we just met?" Glimmer said nervosuly. Adora snorted as Catra grinned wickely. "That about sums it up, yes,"

This was it... Adora was nearly home! Oh, she was so close! NOTHING could go wrong now, right?! Right?! She exhaled shakily, steeling her nerves. Entrapta cackled. "Punch it, Darla!" The ship began to whirr loudly, charging.

The ship launched itself faster toward Etheria. Adora gasped in fright. Something grabbed her hand, and she held it tightly. Prime's ships loitered above and around the ship ominously. They seemed to not notice the First Ones ship barreling through the miles to Etheria like butter. Then-

the blackness of space gave way to the blue skies of her home. Whatever was holding her hand let go with a loud yell, leaving a cold burn in its wake. Adora was in too much shock to care. "It worked... It worked! Ah!" She jumped up and down, breathing excitedly. "Melog did it!" She cheered.

"Catra saved the daaay!" Glimmer cheered. "Aw, come here!" Bow forced Catra into a tight hug, singing. "No, no, absolutely not!" Catra yowled, hissing and straining to get out of their grips. Adora smiled softly, turning and running to the bay area. She slammed her fist against the button, opening the hatch. She inhaled the familiar air of her home.

"We made it. We're home,"

~

She ran as soon as her feet were on the ground. "Adora! Wait!" Somebody screamed behind her. Something grabbed her arm tightly, yanking her harshly to a stop. "Get off of me!" She seethed, roughly tugging her arm out of the grip. Still, she remained still. Glimmer held a deep frown on her face, watching. "Before you go running away, we need to debrief. Let the alliance know we're home," She said. Adora, if she were a cat, would've hissed in her face, scratching her viciously. She instead narrowed her eyes in a glare. "I don't have to do anything, Glimmer," Adora snapped. "I've already done enough. I'm going to see my daughter," Glimmer's eyes darkened. "You have duties to the Rebellion, Adora," She said.

Catra skidded to a stop a few paces behind the clearly feuding girls. She hissed into Bow's ear. "What's going on with them?" She asked. Bow sighed heavily. "A lot... and I think it's all gonna come out now," He winced. Melog mewled by Catra's legs, winding around them. Catra watched with a slightly furrowed brow.

Adora's eyes narrowed even further, a nasty glare settling onto her face. "I have missed over HALF her life, Glimmer. The Rebellion can wait for a few fucking hours!" She spat. Glimmer rolled her eyes. "How the hell have you missed half her life? She's not that old," Adora ground her teeth. "She was a month old when I left. It's been six weeks. SIX weeks," Adora felt the tears before she registered them. Glimmer squared her shoulders. Adora shifted on her feet, ready to bolt if she needed to.

Catra noticed the stance on Adora before Bow did. "She's gonna run. And Sparkles ain't gonna catch her," She commented. Bow's eyes fell to Adora's feet. He sighed. "Yeah. I know," He crossed his arms. Catra nodded. "You gonna stop it?" She noticed Adora tense up, her fists clenching tightly by her side. "'cus if you don't, she's gonna hit her," She said lightly. Bow huffed. "I can try... but I don't think it'll work... this has been a long time coming," He said. Catra hummed in curiosity.

"Maybe we should take a breather, hm?" Adora squeezed her hands so hard, the knuckles began to pop. Glimmer reeled round to glare. "Don't get involved, Bow. This is clearly between me and Adora," She hissed. Bow stepped back, eyes wide. Adora took a step forward, using her height to tower over Glimmer.
This wasn't well received.

"I see we're still talking to people like they're shit!" She hissed. Glimmer laughed scornfully. "Oh, like you don't!?" She yelled. Adora seethed. "Not like you do!" She spat. Glimmer took a step forward, her fists lighting up in purple. Adora summoned her sword. The metal glinted dangerously in the sunlight of Etheria. She held it at her side, point extended diagonally into the ground. "You can either let me see my daughter, or you get hurt trying to stop me," She hissed. Glimmer's fists grew brighter.

"I'd step in now," Catra sang. Bow glared. "You didn't see that I tried?" He shouted when the girls readied weapons. Catra's small amusement fell. Adora had never drawn weapons on friends, not even her fists. She took a hesitant step into the middle of the duelling girls.

"You two need to stop," She snapped. The glares didn't break. "What was the fucking point of flying to space to rescue somebody you're just gonna fight with? Huh?" Catra blocked Adora's view. Her sword dipped slightly. Catra turned on Glimmer. "And you!" She barked. She flapped at Glimmer's fists. "What the fuck are you doing? Huh!? These guys literally left the planet for you. Stop being so stubborn," She scolded. Glimmer seethed, her fists remaining bright. "No friend of mine draws her sword," She hissed. Catra waved her hand. "Technically, you drew the weapon first," She muttered. Glimmer yelled, throwing the magic onto the ground in dismissal. Adora's sword stayed firmly in her grasp, quivering as she pointed it at Glimmer. "You really wanna go down the road of what constitutes a good friend? Huh? Cus we can do that!"

Her face was red with anger, and at that point, Catra knew the ire couldn't be stoked down. Adora had hit her boiling point, and there was nothing you could do except take the cutting words and wait until her steam blew out.

Glimmer scoffed. "Sure! Why not?!" She screamed. Adora threw her hand out, the sword thunking into a tree trunk, wobbling loudly. "Let's start with how you were after I had my daughter," She listed. "First, you made constant barbed remarks about me and my child. Then you forced me into active duty when she was ten days old. You drove me to the point of self-harm, where I felt my safest option was to run away from you!" Catra couldn't help the opening of her mouth in shock. Glimmer's face had blanched slightly. Adora wasn't done; not yet. This was ten weeks of pent up rage and anger.

Anger that'd destroy her if she held onto it.

"Adora, I think that's enough," Bow whispered softly, touching her arm. Catra watched in shock as the blonde shoved it off, practically spitting at Glimmer. "No! She wants to play this game?! FINE!" Her eyes lit up a brilliant blue. "Shall we move onto the Heart? Or do you wanna save that gem for another day where you try to shove friendship into my face!?" Adora's body shook where she stood. Glimmer began to cry softly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Like a switch had been flipped, Adora's eyes switched back off to their usual grey/blue. The tension flooded out of her body. She swayed softly, stumbling to the tree. She yanked her sword out, sending it back to the magical ether. She turned back briefly, a nasty glare upon her face. Her hand shook as she pointed to Glimmer. "If I get to my daughter... and she doesn't recognise me..." She seethed. Her eyes lit up blue again. Catra walked over slowly, mindful not to step into the firing line. "Prime ​​​​​​​himself couldn't get you far enough away,"

Still shaking, Adora stalked off into the woods.

...

Catra waited for her brain to catch up, watching numbly as Bow robotically made his way over to Glimmer, who was frozen, despite the tears streaming from her eyes. She caught Bow's gaze. "I'll watch her," She promised, already taking off in the general direction of the angry blonde. It didn't take her long to find Adora, for she was sobbing loudly on a fallen tree stump. Catra hesitated in her approach, but stood on a pile of leaves. Adora immediately began to wipe her tears away, scoffing bitterly. "Pathetic, I know," She mumbled. Catra finally moved forwards, crouching low so she was level with the blonde. "No. It's not pathetic," She hesitated briefly, reaching forward to wipe some tears away. Adora leaned into her touch, more tears quickly fell in their place. "What if- what if she doesn't recognise me?" Adora mumbled. Catra screwed up the top of her hair poof. Adora made a wounded sound, weakly slapping her hands away. "Anybody knows that poof, Adora," She smirked. Adora slapped her leg, but it wasn't hard.

"She will remember you," A new voice chimed in. Adora frantically wiped her tears away. "Don't worry about crying. I know hormones can affect the female body for several months after birth," Entrapta revealed herself from the shrubbery. Catra shuddered softly; still not entirely happy about how easily Entrapta forgave her. Adora sniffled. "Your daughter-"

"Violet," Catra interrupted, remembering the baby's name. Adora pressed harder against her hand. "Correction, Violet-" Entrapta continued. "She will remember you. Not on physical appearance, as she was too young to have long-term recollection of faces. It isn't until her third month would she remember your face, and recognise it. But she will know its you simply by your smell and heartbeat," Entrapta said. She lowered herself closer to the girls levels, balancing on her hair. "But- but I've not held her in nearly two months," Adora stuttered. Entrapta waved a piece of her hair. "Irrelevant. She grew in your womb listening to your heartbeat for nine months, then a month in the real world. Babies are programmed to understand and recognise scents and heartbeats of those they trust,"

Adora's face left Catra's hand as she gently pulled Entrapta into a hug. The scientist hesitated before winding her arms stiffly around Adora's shoulders. Her hair patted her back awkwardly. Catra snorted loudly. Adora finally pulled back. "Thank you... Entrapta," She said softly. Entrapta's eyes roamed Adora's before settling onto her mouth. "My parents left me when I was two. They didn't love me like you do your child- uh... Violet," Entrapta began. "They didn't want to run Dryl anymore. So they left. My sister had to raise me," She continued. Adora glanced at Catra. "You have a sister?" The latter asked. Entrapta shook her head. "Nope. She died when I was five. She helped me build my botparents. They taught me to tie my shoes and do my hair..." She tugged a bit of her purple hair. "Or they tried to teach me, anyway,"

Adora inhaled softly. "So... I... I know I did some bad things when I was with Hordak," Entrapta continued quieter. She hesitated loudly. "Um... just... just don't leave her like my parents did to me," Adora grabbed her hand softly. "Never... and I'm sorry they did it to you,"

Entrapta's eyes welled with tears. She wiped them away, standing and beginning to walk off. "Maniac?" Catra called, fondly calling upon her former nickname. Entrapta whirled round with wide eyes. "Tell arrows we're gonna be out for the night... and we'll call in tomorrow," She said. Entrapta frowned for a moment. "Oh! Bow," She grinned. "Oki dokie! I'll tell him. Bye, guys!"

...

Adora's hand shook as she knocked on the library's doors. "Lance? George? It's me," She called. Catra stood by her side, a firm and grounding presence. Upon those words, the door swung open, revealing two men. "Oh, Adora! You're safe!" They sighed heavily. The one with dreadlocks rushed forwards, wrapping Adora in a hug. The one with cropped hair held something in his arms, something that was making strange sounds. Catra watched as Adora's head popped out from the embrace. She gasped loudly. Cropped hair descended down the small staircase, holding out the bundle. "Oh my god," Adora sobbed into the bundle, holding it impossibly tightly. The bundle made strange sounds like... cooing?

Oh... this must be Violet.

Adora slid down, barely keeping herself from falling. She held Violet tightly to her chest, tears streaming from her eyes. Catra crouched. She pulled back the blanket, immediately meeting curious and calculating violet eyes. Adora had told her that Violet looked nothing like her, save for her hair, which poofed at the top, just like her mother's did.

Catra, now seeing the baby for the first time, vehemently disagreed. The eye colour? Sure, not Adora's. But the calculatingly curious twinkle? All Adora. Even the nose and lips - cut straight from Adora's own face.

Adora sobbed into the blanket, holding her finger out for Violet to squeeze. Initially, Violet had pouted softly, unsure of this new thing holding her. It smelled different to the other smells she'd been around. But then, as she grasped Adora's quivering finger tightly, her violet eyes changed in recognition.

Adora only cried harder.